Red-edged Aeonium is a succulent plant with red-edged leaves

Origin and habits of the Red-edged Aeonium

Native to the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, it is a subshrub. In its place of origin, summers are dry, hot and rain-scarce, with an average temperature of 25°C, while winters are mild and humid, with an average temperature of 10°C and an annual rainfall of 1000mm. It likes full sunlight and requires well-drained sandy loam.

Morphological characteristics

The plant branches considerably, 25-50cm tall, with leaves arranged in a rosette at the branch tips. The leaves are obovate with a fine point, 2.5-5cm long, thick, blue-green, covered with a white bloom, and with red-brown leaf margins. The inflorescence is a cyme, and the flowers are pale yellow, sometimes tinged with red.

Propagation and cultivation

It is mostly propagated by cuttings. In spring and summer, potted plants are best placed in a courtyard or on a balcony; in winter they should be placed indoors in a sunny spot, with watering controlled. During the growing season, apply a dilute fertilizer once every 15 days. In the rainy season, do not let water accumulate in the pot.

Uses

It is mostly potted to accent indoor spaces. Other commonly cultivated species in the same genus include the large-leaved aeonium, the hairy-leaved aeonium, and the disk-leaved aeonium.