Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum'

Common name(s): Black Beauty, Dark Purple Houseleek Tree, Black Tree Aeonium, Black Rose, Purple Rose

Family: Crassulaceae Subfamily: Sempervivoideae Synonym(s): Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpuream, Aeonium 'Atropurpureum', Sempervivum arboreum var. atropurpureum, Sempervivum mutabile
Print
Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 10th September, 2021
Bark
Bark
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Ken Harrington on 7th July, 2021 at Montacute, South Australia
Expand all
Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties
Origin(s)
Spain
  • Canary Is.: Cultivar
Plant Type
Deciduous Succulent, Evergreen
Deciduous Succulent,
Evergreen
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Sun - Afternoon, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Sun - Afternoon,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Rainforest - Sub-tropical
Rainforest - Sub-tropical
Habitat Zone(s)
Dry Valley Slopes, Garden, Hill Sides, Landscape, Open areas, Plains, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Well drained
Dry Valley Slopes,
Garden,
Hill Sides,
Landscape,
Open areas,
Plains,
Sandy Dry,
Sandy Moist,
Well drained
Mature Height
900mm-1m, 1-1.5m
900mm-1m,
1-1.5m
Mature Width
200-250mm, 250-300mm
200-250mm,
250-300mm
Plant Shape
Bun - Broad
Bun - Broad
Bun - Broad Bun - Broad
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Life Span
15-30yrs, 30-50yrs
15-30yrs,
30-50yrs
Leaf Properties
Leaf Colour (front)
Black-purple, Glossy
Black-purple,
Glossy
Leaf Colour (back)
Black-purple, Glossy
Black-purple,
Glossy
Leaf Shape(s)
Spathulate
Spathulate
Spathulate Spathulate
Leaf Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Glabrous Glabrous,
Smooth Smooth
Leaf Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Glabrous Glabrous,
Smooth Smooth
Leaf Length(s)
90-100mm, 100-125mm, 125-150mm
90-100mm,
100-125mm,
125-150mm
Leaf Width(s)
20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm
20-25mm,
25-30mm,
30-40mm
Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Alternate
Basal or Radial
Basal or Radial
Alternate Alternate,
Basal or Radial Basal or Radial
Leaf Aroma
None
None
Trunk / Stem Properties
Trunk / Stem Upper Colour(s)
Grey-green
Grey-green
Trunk / Stem Base Colour(s)
Grey-brown , Grey-green
Grey-brown,
Grey-green
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Summer Early
Summer Early
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Late
Summer Late
Colour(s)
Yellow
Yellow
Aroma(s)
None
None
Flower Shape(s)
Stellate
Stellate
Stellate Stellate
Flower Size(s) Width
10-12.5mm
10-12.5mm
Arrangement(s)
Raceme
Raceme
Raceme Raceme
Arrangement Size(s)
275-300mm, 300-325mm, 325-350mm
275-300mm,
300-325mm,
325-350mm
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Butterflies
Bees,
Butterflies
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Capsule Loculicidal
Capsule Loculicidal
Capsule Loculicidal Capsule Loculicidal
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Fibrous
Fibrous
Fibrous Fibrous
Soil Properties
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline,
Alkaline
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Dry
Dry
Moist Moist,
Dry Dry
Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
High
High
Slight Slight,
High High
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Insect, Nectar
Insect,
Nectar
Butterfly Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Good
Good
Drought Tolerance
Good
Good
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Smog Tolerant
Good
Good
Landscape Use
Moderate
Moderate
Pests/Diseases
Aphid, Mealy Bug, Root Rot Fungus, Scale
Aphid,
Mealy Bug,
Root Rot Fungus,
Scale
Humidity Requirements
Low, Medium
Low,
Medium
Fertilising Requirements
FR10
FR10
Wind Tolerance
Strong Winds, Hot / Dry Winds
Strong Winds,
Hot / Dry Winds

General Notes

An evergreen succulent with beautiful rosettes of glossy, fleshy, dark purple leaves at the end of the stems. A good contrast plant in the garden with the dark foliage and bright yellow flower heads. Going dormant in summer so require only a little water and can look a little tired.

Cultivar's available A. arboreum "Schwarzkopf', dark purple black leaves, arching branches, more open                                                                                                       A. arboreum f. crsitata, fasiated stems                                                                                                                                                                                A. arboreum 'Variegatum', variegated leaves

Received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit 1999