Aeonium, Black Tree Aeonium, Purple Crest Aeonium 'Zwartkop'
Aeonium arboreum
Family: | Crassulaceae (krass-yoo-LAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Aeonium (ee-OH-nee-um) (Info) |
Species: | arboreum (ar-BOR-ee-um) (Info) |
Cultivar: | Zwartkop |
Additional cultivar information: | (aka Schwarzkopf, Schwartzkopf) |

Category:
Cactus and Succulents
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Foliage Color:
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing:
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Bright Yellow
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From seed; germinate in vitro in gelatin, agar or other medium
Seed Collecting:
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Tucson, Arizona
Belmont, California
Brea, California
Brentwood, California
Cambria, California
Canoga Park, California
Castro Valley, California
Clayton, California
Fairfield, California
Fontana, California
Fresno, California
Garden Grove, California
Granite Bay, California
Hayward, California
Long Beach, California
Los Angeles, California(2 reports)
Manhattan Beach, California
Mission Viejo, California
Oak View, California
Oxnard, California
Palm Springs, California
Pittsburg, California
Pleasant Hill, California
Reseda, California
San Diego, California(2 reports)
San Jose, California
San Marino, California
Santee, California
Simi Valley, California
Thousand Oaks, California
VALLEY VILLAGE, California
Vista, California(9 reports)
Brooksville, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Sumterville, Florida
Titusville, Florida(3 reports)
Lawrence, Kansas
Metairie, Louisiana
Marthasville, Missouri
Cushing, Oklahoma
Gleneden Beach, Oregon
Mapleton, Oregon
Toone, Tennessee
Spring Branch, Texas
Olympia, Washington
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Oct 9, 2012, tonischumacher from GLENEDEN BEACH, OR wrote: We grow aeoniums by the hundreds here on the Oregon coast...beach front! My husband is the primary cultivator here at our home. We do, however, have to bring all of them 'in' over the winter because they will turn to mush when frozen. Most are bare-rooted on sheets in the garage - others come inside the house with us. One warning here, however, you will be bringing in some pests with them, so your houseplants can take a beating :( We have several different kinds of aeoniums, including Zwartkop, and green hues, as well...so the colors are magnificent! |
Negative | On Oct 7, 2010, trub from Marthasville, MO wrote: My experience is not totally negative. I like the plant except I would like to know why it always loses it's lower leaves, I mean all the way to the top row. It is a houseplant for me . I live in Mo and of course it won't grow outside but I did have it outside during the summer, in sun part of the day. What can I do to help it? |
Positive | On Feb 19, 2010, AmyMorie from Green Cove Springs, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: Easy grower here in Los Angeles. Striking plant that can maintain 6" - 8" size in a small pot, or get 2 feet+ high in the ground. Cuttings almost effortless to date |
Negative | On Jan 23, 2010, Cixi from Addis Ababa, I moved house 6 months ago and found this in the garden - didn't like it but wanted to know what it was before I despatched it to the compost heap. Thanks to all who provided pictures to enable me to identify it. I now realise part of the reason I don't like it is that it's in shade so not growing as well as it would in sun. But I think I'm going to get rid of it anyway - I like purple/black plants but this one gives me the creeps! |
Neutral | On Feb 12, 2009, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote: Editor's Note |
Positive | On Oct 14, 2008, baiissatva from Dunedin, ZONE 9B Coastal Otago, New Zealand. |
Positive | On Jul 1, 2008, JamesPark from Auckland, Easy to grow, attractive and quite hardy, even with wet winters! Managed to grow when other succulents would die. |
Positive | On Apr 25, 2008, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote: This is indeed a great cultivar... Aeonium arboreums are all pretty easy and forgiving plants, being a tad more sun hardy than many of the more sensitive Aeoniums. These, and most Aeoniums, are not as drought tolerant as one might suspect with those thick succulent stems and succulent leaves.. their roots are super wimpy and thirsty, and will die if not watered routinely. Some even recommend NOT planting these in cactus soil, but regular potting or garden soils, ones that retain moisture a bit better. It is hard to overwater an Aeonium except for a few species that truly go dormant in the summer... this is not one of those. Water this one regularl especially in the summers or it will wilt and look unhappy. |
Positive | On Feb 7, 2006, plantarella from Valley Village, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: One of my all time favorite plants. This unique species has a flair for the dramatic. Its dark appearance truly stand out against my other greenery. This plant is easy to propagate and in less a year, you will have many stems growing. Looks wonderful next to any blue turquoise succulent. |
Positive | On Oct 12, 2004, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote: This is a very easy plant to grow in my region. (I don't know how important the acid soil requirement stated in the listing is. Mine grow in alkaline soil and I have alkaline tap water.) |
Neutral | On Feb 3, 2003, albleroy from Wavre/ greenhous +/- 2500 species, IA wrote: As the plant belongs to the series arboreum it flowers yellow, and the plant can reach up to 5/6 feet high. |