Among indoor succulents, there are many plants both with a classic appearance and flaunting their unusual details. One of the most popular representatives of the Tolstyankov family - aeonium is rightfully considered a plant not only hardy and long-lived (which is what its name says), but also extremely effective. Succulent leaves, gathered in flower-like rosettes, most often rise on bare shoots, creating the feeling of exotic trees in a mini-format. And although it is not so easy to grow aeonium, they can become real stars and large indoor collections, and decorate a table setting or a work corner.
Eonium home variegated (Aeonium domesticum variegatum). <>
Juicy green rosettes-flowers of the aeoniums
The appearance of aeoniums reminds many flower growers of a garden star from among succulents - an amazing "stone rose" young. Aeonium really forms rosettes of leaves, also similar to flowers of a rose or dahlia. But these plants are completely different in nature and can boast of a much greater variety in height, and in the form of growth, and in the color of the leaves. Among the aeoniums, there are both the most modest and unremarkable indoor succulents, the beauty of which can only be appreciated closely, and imposing exotic plants, in which it is not so easy to recognize the decorative leafy culture from the Tolstyankov family.
Aeonium (Aeonium) is a large genus of succulents that develop as compact shrubs or herbaceous crops. These are real long-lived plants that have been introduced into the interior of rooms for decades. As with all succulents, the aeonium is characterized by fleshy, water-accumulating leaves and shoots. Stems are powerful, straight, branching or growing one at a time, gradually lignified and flaunting marks from fallen old leaves, resembling scars. Some aeonium species develop spectacular aerial roots.
The height of these plants ranges from a modest 10-15 cm to almost 1 m. At the same time, in different species, the stems can be either pronounced, resemble woody plants, or almost completely hide under squat rosettes of leaves. Fleshy leaves are always sessile, taper towards the base, resemble petals or rhombuses in shape. A sparse edge or an absolute glossy surface is combined with edges decorated with thin white cilia or small denticles.
The leaves are collected in very dense, flower-like rosettes, arranged in tiles, patterned. The rosettes range in diameter from a few centimeters to almost 1 m, but are always located at the ends of the stems.
The color of the leaves varies from the usual light green to various reddish, brown, purple shades, most often unevenly distributed over the leaf blade. In indoor conditions, aeonium blooms very rarely. The pyramidal clusters of bright yellow inflorescences are very effective and last for a long time. But the lack of flowering has its own plus. Species that develop a single rosette of leaves most often die after flowering.
Flowering of the noble aeonium.
The best types of indoor aeoniums are rightfully ranked as:
- Eonium noble (Aeonium nobile) is a spectacular indoor succulent with very juicy olive leaves curving at the edge, forming flower-like rosettes up to half a meter in diameter.
- Eonium Burchard (Aeonium x burchardii) is a medium-sized, but very effective hybrid species with a rather dark beautiful stem and rosettes of leaves up to 10 cm in diameter, in which the pointed tip and brownish-orange edge turn into a bright green color at the base of the leaf.
- Eonium decorative (Aeonium decorum) is one of the most spectacular branching species of aeonium, developing in the form of a surprisingly delicate, loose shrub, the rosettes of leaves of which rise to a height of 50 cm.Rough shoots with diamond-shaped scars and densely spaced whitish outgrowths are crowned with elegant, graceful, similar to miniature roses with rosettes. Green-pinkish smooth leaves up to 3 mm long look like young rose leaves thanks to the small sharp teeth along the edge.
- Eonium canary (Aeonium canariense) seems to consist of only sockets. The stems of this succulent are practically invisible, the rosette of leaves, especially in young plants, practically lies on the ground. The leaves are unusually large, with an original curvature of the leaf blades, an unusual color that seems brown-green. Gradually, the rosette of leaves becomes loose, in diameter it can reach about half a meter.
- Aeonium virginian (Aeonium canariense var. Virgineum) is a charming succulent, the most attractive part of which is the thick cilia along the edge of the leaf blades. It forms almost flat, very beautiful rosettes of rounded leaves. It produces many leaves, which together form a kind of pillows of numerous green flowers. The velveteen-like edge, rich green color and light aroma that emanates from the greenery only add charm to this amazing succulent.
- Eonium home (Aeonium domesticum, today reclassified as a hybrid Aichrizon home (Aichryson x domesticum)) also branches quite strongly, but at the same time it is limited to a height of only 30 cm. It flaunts with practically open branches, curving only at the top and darker leaves of an obovate shape with a rounded edge. Rosettes of leaves of this aeonium resemble zinnia inflorescences.
- Eonium wavy (Aeonium undulatum) is a spectacular, but somewhat unusual and very powerful plant with a thick, silvery scarred stem and large rosettes of leaves up to 30 cm in diameter located at the top of the shoots, resembling a half-open bud. The leaves of this species are round, strongly narrowed at the base, densely set, with a bright color.
- Aeonium arboreal (Aeonium arboreum) is a spectacular shrub with practically no branching shoots, woody only at the base, dense rosettes of leaves of which are located at the tops of the shoots, painted mainly brown with occasional splashes of light green. Rosettes of leaves in diameter reach 20 cm, spatulate in shape, due to different angles of the bend seem more lush.
- Eonium golden (Aeonium arboretum var. Holochrysum) forms original bushes with straight, slightly hanging only at the ends of the shoots and narrow spatulate, very thick leaves, with a purple stripe along the edge of the leaf and in the very center. The yellow-green color in combination with colored stripes looks very variegated. Rosettes of leaves reach 20 cm in diameter.
- Aeonium Lindley (Aeonium lindleyi) - compact, reaching a height of only 30 cm, but highly branched shrub with very thin curved brown shoots, crowned with dense small rosettes of dark green color. Slightly pubescent leaves with a round edge resemble stonecrop foliage. The foliage of this species is sticky and quite aromatic.
- Aeonium layered (Aeonium tabuliforme) - one of the shortest species, forming a sitting, almost flat plate-shaped rosette of sitting, tiled leaves, creating a kind of green "cobblestone" up to 50 cm in diameter. The stem is very shortened, almost invisible.The leaves, narrow at the base, turn into an extended spatulate upper edge with beautiful whitish cilia. It stands out for its perfect symmetry and stunningly beautiful tile patterns.
- Eonium Haworth (Aeonium haworthii) - a spectacular branching "tree" with unusual widely spaced thin stems and massive aerial roots, which seem to support arcuate curving shoots. At the tops of the stem, dense rosettes similar to green flowers are located with gray-green leaves decorated with a reddish stripe along the edge.
Almost all aeoniums are represented not only by species, but also by decorative varietal forms. All Variegatum varieties and the so-called “black” varieties are especially popular.
Aeonium nobile. <>
Eonium Burchard (Aeonium x burchardii). <>
Decorative aeonium (Aeonium decorum). <>
Types and varieties of succulent eonium photos, names and descriptions
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This plant has 36 main species and 39 hybrid ones. In home floriculture, the following types of aeonium are popular:
Aeonium home (A. domesticum).
Aeonium noble (A.Nobile).
Eonium virginsky (A. Virgineum).
Aeonium tree (A. Arboreum).
Aeonium is tiered or disc-shaped (A. Tabuliforme).
Even more subspecies and varieties were obtained from them.
Take a look at the photo, which shows the types of aeonium with names that are most popular among gardeners:
Aeonium tree (A. arboreum).
Aeonium canary (A. canariense).
Aeonium Lindley (A. lindleyi).
Eonium marble (A. marmoratus).
Eonium Havortsa (A. haworthii).
For example, the domestic species of aeonium is a branchy shrub that reaches 30 cm in height. Its trunk is covered with brown bark, leaves are dark green, wide, blooms with yellow flowers.
Most often represented by the fleshy variety "Kiwi" (Aeonium percarneum cv. "Kiwi"), which has a rather interesting color. The edge of the foliage is framed with a red border, the core is bright green in color. Young foliage has a yellow tint.
Aeonium noble is a species that has a short stem, which makes it seem like a rosette of leaves is lying on the ground. Flowering lasts an average of 1.5 months. The flowers of this succulent have a pleasant, rather tangible aroma.
Virginia aeonium is a perennial species that has a short, almost invisible stem; leaf rosettes are shaped like openwork pillows. Leaves are silvery green, pink at the base. In natural conditions, the plant reaches 1 m in length.
Aeonium tiered or disc-shaped is a species that is striking in its shape, since its leaves are formed into a large flat rosette, resembling a plate in appearance. Sometimes the diameter of the rosette reaches half a meter.
The photo below shows a disc-shaped aeonium:
A feature of the species is that the plant blooms in the second year of life and then dies off. The leaves are framed with villi and are pale green in color. Flowers - with a yellowish tinge. The maximum height of the disc eonium is 10 cm. The leaves are arranged like a tile.
The most striking is the arboreal aeonium, which is an erect shrub with shiny leaf plates tightly pressed against each other. The leaves are rosette at the very ends of the shoots, thereby resembling bizarre flowers.
The most spectacular representative of the species is the Eonium Schwarzkopf or Black Rose.
The next photo shows that the aeonium Schwarzkopf resembles an exotic flower:
It has dark, almost black leaves that give off green at the base, thereby creating the effect of the core of the flower.
Another interesting variety of the tree-like aeonium is called Green Rose Buds. This is a small shrub, on which up to 50 bright green large rosettes are formed.
The Eonium variety "Sun Rays" has dense leaf rosettes, green leaves in the center and lemon at the edges.
The plant variety "Du Rozzen" forms loose leaf rosettes. Its young leaves are deep green in color, and over time they acquire a purple color.
Eonium Canary is a shrub with a little branched, short and thick trunk. An adult plant rarely grows above 30 cm in height.
Aeonium care at home
It is very easy to grow aeonium. This is a photophilous succulent plant, sensitive to an excess of moisture, which, despite its natural preferences for cool wintering, tolerates well even room temperatures. It is not at all difficult to care for aeonium, this plant is suitable even for novice flower growers. Compact and surprisingly beautiful in detail, they require attention in only one parameter - the aeoniums are meant to be admired. These are piece accents that deserve a special place in the interior.
Lighting for aeonium
All aeoniums, without exception, are sun-loving plants, which, even in winter, require the selection of the most brightly lit locations. In varietal plants, as well as species with variegated leaf color, any shading causes a complete loss of characteristic color. Moreover, even in light partial shade, in any aeonium, the stems become much thinner, elongated, curved, and the plants form small and not so spectacular rosettes.
For this indoor succulent, it is advisable to select only southern locations on the windowsills. The windows oriented strictly to the south or southeast are considered optimal. Moreover, during the hottest period in summer, when the plants are in temperatures outside the optimal range, it is better to protect the fleshy leaves of this succulent from the sun's rays.
Eonium already needs to be placed in the brightest places in the room, so in winter it is simply impossible to increase the illumination for it. This succulent does not like artificial lighting in any form.
Aeonium canariense. <>
Aeonium virginsky (Aeonium canariense var.virgineum). <>
Eonium wavy (Aeonium undulatum). <>
Comfortable temperature
Despite its love for the brightest possible lighting, Eonium cannot be ranked as heat-loving plants. This culture looks most effective only when maintaining optimal conditions, alternating different modes of maintenance in the phase of active development and during the rest period. Eonium feels great at air temperatures from 20 to 25 degrees during spring and summer. Lower temperatures can be detrimental for a plant, but higher temperatures can increase the sensitivity to direct sunlight and the dependence of plants on fresh air.
In winter, all types of aeonium, without exception, prefer coolness, content in the temperature range from 10 to 12 degrees. But at the same time, you should not be afraid of ordinary room conditions. Unlike many other plants, aeonium adapts well to normal indoor conditions even during the winter. It's just that the plant will form fewer outlets, and their diameter will decrease slightly.
Eonium can be safely ranked among indoor cultures that adore fresh air. In summer, it feels great outdoors, in the garden or on the balcony. At the same time, the mandatory callout affects the beauty and attractiveness of both the leaf rosettes themselves and the color of the leaf plates. You can keep aeonium outdoors all summer long. It is taken out as soon as night temperatures rise above 10 degrees Celsius and left until the moment when the first cold weather comes. During the rest of the year, the plant needs to be ventilated as often as possible.
Aichryson homemade (Aichryson x domesticum). Previously classified as Aeonium domesticum. <>
Aeonium arboreum.
Golden aeonium (Aeonium arboretum var.holochrysum).
Watering and air humidity
Like all succulents, aeoniums need fairly moderate watering. Between procedures, the soil should have time to dry out almost completely. Thanks to more rare watering, the plant can be grown even by very busy growers. In the winter period, the procedures should be very rare at all, only not allowing the substrate to dry completely (but the humidity is significantly reduced compared to the period of active development).
The most difficult thing in watering this succulent is the need to very carefully carry out the procedure itself. Water should not fall on the base of the outlet and the stem; drops should never accumulate in the center of the bush. Wetting the stems for aeonium is the most common cause of the spread of a variety of rot and fungal infections. Therefore, watering for this plant must be carried out strictly along the edge of the pot.
But the aeonium does not need an increase in air humidity at all. They perfectly tolerate even the driest air and the operation of heating systems; they do not even need spraying, even during the hottest periods in summer. In fact, all moisturizing procedures are reduced to the regular removal of accumulated dust.
Aeonium lindleyi.
Layered aeonium (Aeonium tabuliforme).
Aeonium haworthii. <>
Feeding for aeonium
This succulent needs fertilizers only during the period of active growth from spring to summer. At the same time, feeding for aeoniums is carried out even less often than for cacti. For this plant, one procedure every 2-3 weeks is enough.
Fertilizer mixes for cacti or other succulents are best suited for aeonium.
Biological species
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In the Tolstyankov family, there are almost 90 different types of aeonium. Some of them are ordinary green plants, while others are original representatives of the flora, striking with their unusual parts.
The most famous types include:
- Aeonium nobile (Aeonium Noble) is a succulent for home cultivation, which has curving, juicy olive-colored leaf plates that form chic rosettes up to half a meter in diameter.
- Aeonium arboreum (Eonium tree) is a shrub that produces rare shoots that quickly lignify near the base. The rosettes are dense, formed from brown and light green leaves, are formed at the very end parts of the shoots and do not exceed 25 cm in diameter.
- Aeonium undulatum (Eonium Wavy) is a powerful and effective plant, on the stem of which there are large shoots with wide rosettes and thick scars on the entire surface of silvery stems.
- Eonium Schwarzkopf - at the ends of the shoots, erect peduncles bloom, which branch out to the sides. The inflorescences are pink or bright yellow, and the shape of the plant resembles a wide plate with a small tree in the center.
- Aeonium lindleyi (Lindley's Eonium) is a compact but actively branching bush with rounded, pubescent leaves. They are slightly sticky to the touch and emit a specific, pleasant aroma.
- Aeonium tabuliforme (Eonium layered) is a stunted plant with an almost flat rosette of leaves, the arrangement of which resembles the surface of tiles, and thin cilia whiten at their edges. The stem of this species is practically invisible, and the bush itself is striking in its almost absolute symmetry.
Each of the species has insignificant characteristics, but it is these little things that allow them to be recognized and create a variety of collections in the house or in garden plots.
Pruning aeoniums
If necessary, aeonium tolerates formative non-cardinal pruning well.Plants need it only if the shoots are excessively thin, stretch out, and the plants lose their decorative effect. In early spring, at the first signs of the onset of growth, overgrown, curved shoots are cut and used for rooting. On the remaining stumps, aeoniums usually form a large number of young rosettes.
Eonium Haworth in a decorative pots. <>
Crown formation and flowering
Crown formation should take place in early spring, when twisted or too long shoots are just beginning to appear. They should be trimmed. Sprinkle the cut with crushed activated carbon. In the future, new sockets will appear in its place.
The trimmed part is used for planting.
Blooming aeoniums at home is not common. But it is always beautiful and long lasting. At the end of flowering, the rosette on which the peduncle is located dies. Aeoniums containing only one socket die off completely.
Aeonium transplant and substrate
Like all succulents, aeoniums need a water-permeable, very light and friable substrate. Optimal for it are considered soil mixtures, consisting of equal parts of leafy, soddy soil, coarse sand and peat. Suitable for the characteristics of this plant and ready-made substrate for cacti. The addition of charcoal to the soil prevents most of the diseases of the aeonium.
Plant transplanting will also not cause trouble for flower growers. Only young plants are transplanted annually, but adults need to replace the container and substrate only once every 2-3 years. Plants can be reloaded or partially removed from the substrate. But since aeoniums are hypersensitive to root rot, a high drainage layer with a minimum height of 7-8 cm must be laid for them. It is advisable to keep the level of deepening the same.
Growing and care
First of all, it is worth remembering that aeoniums need good lighting, but hardly tolerate moisture. With moderate watering, these succulents feel much more comfortable than with abundant moisture.
Compact flowers with original details will grow effortlessly even for inexperienced growers
One of the main rules is that the plant loves attention. Aeoniums are simply created to delight and delight others.
Leaves with a variegated color, it is advisable to slightly shade, and bright green - to be placed on sunny windowsills. With a lack of light, the flowers lose their attractiveness, the leaves become small, the rosettes become less spectacular. The stems are bent, gradually elongated, which does not look very aesthetically pleasing anymore.
A special rule in the care of the aeonium is no additional illumination with the help of indoor appliances. They only need sunlight and react negatively to any lamps. The recommended temperature is about 25 degrees, but the plant tolerates heat well, as well as wintering in indoor conditions.
Diseases and pests of aeonium
Aeoniums cannot boast of enviable resistance to pests and diseases. They are especially fond of mealybugs, which settle in dense rosettes between leaves. It is very easy to notice damage by pests, because of them, growth stops immediately, the attractive appearance of the outlets gradually changes to a neglected one. It is better to fight any pests by mechanical washing with soapy water. Insecticides for this culture are used only as a last resort.
On aeoniums, various fungal diseases are very common. But they appear in a plant only when the care is disturbed, in particular, with inaccurate watering, during which the base of the bush or rosettes gets wet.
Common growing problems:
- stretching of shoots, curvature of the plant and loss of attractive appearance in insufficient bright light;
- the appearance of yellow and brown spots with waterlogging;
- the appearance of dark areas on the leaves in the shade;
- depressed appearance, loss of color in the absence of access to fresh air.
Seated aeoniums.
Beneficial features
Due to their beneficial properties, aeoniums are used not only for room decoration, but also in folk medicine. It is known that the juice from its leaves has good antibacterial properties and accelerates tissue regeneration. It can be used for herpes, burns, and glaucoma. In small doses, this juice is able to rejuvenate the skin, smooth out wrinkles.
Eonium oil is a good antiseptic. Its medicinal properties allow it to be used for various inflammations, cuts and allergies. Always consult your doctor before use..
Having given the eonium proper care and attention, it will delight you with its decorative appearance and create coziness in the house!
Reproduction of aeoniums
These succulents are very easy to propagate. For aeoniums, both the method of obtaining new plants from seeds and rooting of apical cuttings are suitable.
The seeds of the plant are very small, they are simply scattered over the surface, without covering them with a substrate, and after light spraying with a spray, they are covered with film or glass. If the air temperature exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, then they germinate very quickly and give amicable shoots. Growing a plant requires a gradual change in individual containers.
Cutting is an even simpler method. For rooting in aeonium, stems with rosettes of leaves at the top are used. Shoots are cut with a sharp knife at an angle of 45 degrees, immediately processing the cut surface with chopped coal and letting it dry for 2-3 days. Then cuttings with rosettes of leaves are planted in a pot with a mixture of leafy soil and sand or in clean sand, deepening 2-3 cm.With moderate watering and light moisture of the substrate, plants form roots even without greenhouse conditions, but they need to be kept in diffused lighting.
Optimal temperature conditions
The aeonium plant requires a cool temperature regime. In summer, it is better to keep aeoniums at temperatures ranging from 16-23 degrees. When flowers are kept in warmer conditions, they will constantly need fresh air. Therefore, the plant must be provided with ventilation or stay outside, where it can be until the onset of cold weather.
In winter, the plant needs coolness, as it is dormant, like most flowers. The temperature should be 8-12 degrees. At a higher air temperature, the flower can shed its leaves, become naked, and lose its attractiveness. Also, temperatures below + 5 degrees can lead to shedding of leaves.
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