Aeonium atropurpureum

Credit: Dornenwolf

Rosettes of Aeonium atropurpureum leaves

Credit: Trace Nietert

Aeonium atropurpureum purple

Credit: Selso

Aeonium atropurpureum flowers

Credit: Domdomegg

Aeonium atropurpureum, purple aeonium

Aeonium atropurpureum was discovered in a garden on the Canary Islands. However, it is not a botanical variety. This succulent is a cultivar obtained from aeonium arboreum, a plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family. It is distinguished by its purple foliage.

How to recognize the purple aeonium, Aeonium atropurpureum?

Aeonium atropurpureum is a shrubby succulent plant. In the open ground, it forms a bush that can be over a metre high and as wide.

The thick, grey stem branches. Each branch bears a rosette of leaves about 15 cm in diameter.

The fleshy, oblong leaves are colored by the sun. The young, bright-green blades are grouped together at the heart of the rosette. The older ones, on the outside of the rosette, take on a purple hue.

The yellow flowers are grouped in panicles. They grow on a 20-centimeter flowering spike at the heart of the rosette. Each rosette flowers only once. It dies after flowering. But the offshoots and other branches continue to grow.

Aeonium atropurpureum presents no danger. Its leaves and stems are not toxic, either to us or to our pets.

Our maintenance tips

If you live in a frost-free region, you can plant your Aeonium atropurpureum in the ground, provided the soil remains dry.

Elsewhere, it's best to opt for a pot culture and bring your Aeonium atropurpureum into your conservatory or living room when temperatures drop. The good news is that it's in winter, when the plant is growing, that it reveals all its beauty!

Watering

When it's very hot, your plant needs to be watered accordingly, as it goes into vegetative mode to protect itself.

Water your Aeonium atropurpureum when the soil has dried deeply. Use water at room temperature to avoid damaging the roots. If you can, use rainwater or non-calcareous water.

Never leave water standing in the saucer or planter, as this will rot the roots.

Do not water during this period.

Spray

Your aeonium atropurpureum hates wet foliage. You must not mist the plant.

Repotting

Re-pot your Aeonium atropurpureum in a pierced pot. Line the bottom with pebbles or clay balls to improve drainage.

Aeonium atropurpureum appreciate well-drained soil. You can use a substrate for cacti and succulents, or mix garden soil with river sand.

Pour a little potting soil into the pot and plant your specimen. Don't hesitate to push in the stem a third of the way up. This way, the plant will be more stable and produce more roots. Fill with potting soil and press down to remove air bubbles.

Prune

To encourage the growth of your Aeonium atropurpureum, prune regularly.

Remove dried leaves.

Cut back flower stems when flowers have wilted. If you use a tool, make sure it's clean and sharp.

Plantation

Choose a sunny, well-drained location, such as the top of a slope or embankment.

Dig a hole two to three times larger than the root ball. Place pebbles at the bottom to improve drainage.

Plant your Aeonium atropurpureum and backfill. If your soil is heavy, mix it with river sand. Tamp down to remove air bubbles.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Locate a stem with a rosette. Remove a five-to-eight-centimeter section using clean, sharp pruning shears.

Leave to dry for at least 48 hours in the open air, until a callus forms.

Prepare a perforated pot. Place clay balls or pebbles in the bottom for drainage. Then fill with a light substrate, such as potting soil for cacti and succulents. Use a pencil or pick to make a hole.

Plant your Aeonium atropurpureum. Bury the stem about a third of the way up. This way, your plant will form more roots and be more stable. But don't bury the leaves! Place your cutting in a bright room with a temperature of between 15 and 18°.

Wait a few weeks before watering, to allow the roots to form.

Disease / Threat

Mealybug, accompanied by ants for its honeydew.

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Crassulaceae - Crassulaceae
Type	Aeonium - Aeonium
Species	Aeonium arboreum - Aeonium arboreum
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Calcareous earth Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Shrub Flowery Succulent
Tag	Beginner
Origin	Southern Europe
Hardiness (USDA)	9b
Leaf color
Flower color