Aeonium Zwartkop in pot

Credit: Acabashi

Rosette of Aeonium Zwartkop leaves

Credit: Babbage

Aeonium Zwartkop in rockery

Credit: Paul Downey

Aeonium zwartkop in the ground

Credit: Acabashi

Aeonium 'Zwartkop', black aeonium

Aeonium "Zwartkop" belongs to the Crassulaceae family. But this fat plant doesn't grow on the shores of the Mediterranean. It's a cultivar obtained by modifying aeonium arboreum. Its name, which means black head, refers to its foliage, which is as dark as a crow's feathers.

How to recognize Aeonium 'Zwartkop'?

A succulent shrub with an upright habit, Aeonium 'Zwartkop' (sometimes spelled "Schwarzkopf") is 80 cm high and 50 cm wide.

The rigid stems are strongly branched. A rosette of leaves grows from the tip of each.

Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' is prized for its black foliage, hemmed with white polish. But to achieve this deep color, you'll need to give your plant plenty of light. Without sunlight, the leaf blades turn a light violet or bright green. It can be difficult to distinguish a black Aeonium from an Aeonium atropurpureum. Your succulent has dark foliage, but you're not sure which variety? Compare the leaves. The leaves of Aeonium 'Zwartkop' are serrated and shorter than those of Aeonium atropurpureum. They are no more than ten centimetres long.

In spring, yellow flowers enhance the foliage. They are grouped in a cyme, on a spike that emerges from the rosette. Each rosette flowers only once. When the inflorescence fades, the leaves die. But don't worry! The other branches remain very much alive.

Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' is non-toxic. You can grow it without wearing gloves.

Our maintenance tips

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

Elsewhere, it's best to opt for a pot culture and bring your Aeonium 'Zwartkop' 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 'Zwartkop' 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 'Zwartkop hates wet foliage. You must not mist the plant.

Repotting

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

Aeonium 'Zwartkop 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 'Zwartkop', 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 'Zwartkop' 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 'Zwartkop'. 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