Aeonium 'Zwartkop', black aeonium
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Genus
- Aeonium
- Species
- Aeonium arboreum
Other name:Aeonium 'Schwarzkopf'
The Aeonium “Zwartkop” belongs to the Crassulaceae family. However, this succulent plant does not grow along the Mediterranean coast. It is a cultivar developed by modifying aeonium arboreum. Its name, which means “black head,” refers to its foliage, which is as dark as a raven's feathers.
How can you recognize the black aeonium, Aeonium 'Zwartkop'?
A succulent shrub with an upright habit, Aeonium 'Zwartkop' (sometimes spelled “Schwarzkopf”) grows 80 centimeters tall and 50 centimeters wide.
The stiff stems are heavily branched. At the tip of each stem grows a rosette of leaves.
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' is prized for its black foliage, edged with white hairs. But to achieve this deep color, you'll need to provide your plant with plenty of light. Without sunlight, the leaves turn light purple or bright green. It can be difficult to distinguish a black Aeonium from an Aeonium atropurpureum. Does your succulent have dark foliage, but you're not sure of the variety? Compare the leaves. Those of Aeonium 'Zwartkop' are serrated and shorter than those of Aeonium atropurpureum. They are no longer than ten centimeters.
In the spring, yellow flowers add a splash of color to the foliage. They are grouped in a corymb on a stem that emerges from the rosette. Each rosette blooms only once. When the inflorescence fades, the leaves die. But don't worry! The other stems remain very much alive.
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' is not toxic. You can grow it without wearing gloves.
Our care 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
During periods of extreme heat, you should adjust the way you water your plant, as it enters a vegetative state 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.
Misting
Your Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' hates wet foliage. Don't 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.
Planting
Your Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' loves light and hates humidity. Plant it in the sun and in a place where water won't stagnate after a shower, such as an embankment or the top of a slope.
Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. Place pebbles or clay balls at the bottom to improve drainage. Plant your Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' and fill in with garden soil. You can add sand to lighten the soil. Press down to remove air bubbles.
Taking cuttings
Propagation by cuttings 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 pot with drainage holes. Place clay pellets or small stones at the bottom for drainage. Then fill it with a lightweight substrate, such as potting mix for cacti and succulents. Make a small hole in the soil using a pencil or a stick.
Plant your Aeonium 'Zwartkop'. Bury the stem about one-third of the way down. This will help your plant develop more roots and make it more stable. But be careful! Don't bury the leaves! Place your cutting in a bright room with a temperature between 15 and 18°.
Wait a few weeks before watering, to allow time for roots to form.
Disease / Threat
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrates
- Calcareous earthHumus soilSandy soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubs
- Tag
- Beginner
- Origin
- Southern Europe
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C)
- Leaf colors
- Light greenBlackVioletDark green
- Flower color
- Yellow
Discover plants from the same family
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