Large, solitary, short-stemmed Aeonium with thick green leaves and red flowers (an unusual color for Aeonium). Beautiful sculptural form. Larger rosettes can reach impressive proportions, in the ground or in extra-large containers. May be self fertile. Offsetting forms are found in cultivation and they do not appear to be hybrids, based on the flowers.

This plant enjoys day long sun in mild climates. Stressed plants (or plants during their summer rest) may turn yellow, orange or brown; this is generally reversible. Provide strong light, excellent drainage, and regular water. Not recommended as a container plant where space or light may be limiting.

Landscape plants under suboptimal conditions may be relatively long lived (several years), while container plants given good nursery care may live less than 2 years before they flower (they can fill a 3 gallon pot in a year).

From La Palma in the Canary Islands (the only solitary Aeonium on the island). Well suited to mild Mediterranean (winter rainfall) climates. Drought tolerant.

Very easy to propagate by beheading. Take the top half of a reasonably big rosette (say 10 inch pot size) and start a new plant. Within a few months the stump of the mother plant will branch profusely, allowing several rosettes to be harvested in order to start new plants. Like other Aeoniums, this plant may sometimes commit to flowering before being taken as a cutting, and the cutting will never reach anywhere near full size before it starts to go vertical and sprouts blooms.

Apparently self fertile. Seed is quite small but young seedlings are fast growing, reaching 4 inches within 6 months and 10 inches within a year.

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This aeonium, large in size and sturdy to the touch, can have cup-shaped leaves, which water can sit in. Unfortunately, this can result in leaf edges becoming sunburned. I recommend not watering the tops of the leaves or planting near something that can drop water onto the leaves.

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