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

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 10th September, 2021

Bark

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

Flowers

Taken by Ken Harrington

Flowers

Taken by Ken Harrington

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

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

Growth Rate

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

Leaf Texture (front)

Glabrous

Smooth

Glabrous,

Smooth

Leaf Texture (back)

Glabrous

Smooth

Glabrous,

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 Margin(s)

Ciliate

Entire

Ciliate,

Entire

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Basal or Radial

Alternate,

Basal or Radial

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Flat

Apice(s)

Mucronate

Base(s)

Truncate

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Sessile

Trunk / Stem Properties

Trunk / Stem Upper Colour(s)

Grey-green

Trunk / Stem Base Colour(s)

Grey-brown , Grey-green

Grey-brown,

Grey-green

Diameter / Thickness

20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm

20-25mm,

25-30mm,

30-40mm

Trunk / Stem Cross Section

Terete

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Summer Early

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Colour(s)

Yellow

Aroma(s)

None

Flower Shape(s)

Stellate

Flower Size(s) Width

10-12.5mm

Arrangement(s)

Raceme

Arrangement Size(s)

275-300mm, 300-325mm, 325-350mm

275-300mm,

300-325mm,

325-350mm

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Butterflies

Bees,

Butterflies

Petal Number

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Capsule Loculicidal

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Achene

Seed Number

many

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Texture

Pliable , Stringy

Pliable,

Stringy

Colour(s)

Brown Dark

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline,

Alkaline

Condition(s)

Moist

Dry

Moist,

Dry

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

High

Slight,

High

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Insect, Nectar

Insect,

Nectar

Butterfly Attraction

Moderate

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Very Low

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Regrowth

Fire Retarding

Good

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

0 - 2°C

Smog Tolerant

Good

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Heading, Periodic Pruning

Dead Heading,

Periodic Pruning

Pests/Diseases

Aphid, Mealy Bug, Root Rot Fungus, Scale

Aphid,

Mealy Bug,

Root Rot Fungus,

Scale

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Border Plant, Garden-Container, Fire Retarding, Foliage-dark contrasting, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Xeriscape, Playground Friendly, Shady Dry, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Border Plant,

Garden-Container,

Fire Retarding,

Foliage-dark contrasting,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Cottage,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Playground Friendly,

Shady Dry,

Sunny Dry,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Low, Medium

Low,

Medium

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Fertilising Requirements

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

Propagation Notes

Hardwood Stem Cuttings

Flowering

Dec, Jan, Feb

Cutting

Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, May

Material Preparation

Firm wood stem cuttings. Cutting approximately 50 - 400mm long. Ensure cut clean across the bottom, remove lower leaves, flowers, seed pods if required, though the stem should be clear. Place to one side and allow the wounds to callous and dry for 1 - 2 days.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Fill the pots with mix and firm down. Water pot of mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. No rooting hormone is required. Using a dibber press cutting gently into pot of mix, down until the cutting stands firm. Place in cold house, keep barely moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 18-25° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 8 - 12 weeks

Nursery Stock 8 - 12 weeks

Pot Mix:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Premium Potting Mix

Notes

Propagating from seed will not guarantee the strong leaf colour.