''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (ageless). While most of them are

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

, some are found in

Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...

Cape Verde , national_anthem = () , official_languages = Portuguese , national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole , capital = Praia , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , demonym ...

, Morocco, in East Africa ( Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya) and Yemen.

Description

The succulent

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are typically arranged on a

basal Basal or basilar is a term meaning ''base'', ''bottom'', or ''minimum''. Science * Basal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location for features associated with the base of an organism or structure * Basal (medicine), a minimal level that is nec ...

stem, in a dense, spreading rosette. A feature which distinguishes this genus from many of its relatives is the manner in which the flowers bear free petals, and are divided into 6 or 12 sections. Each rosette produces a central inflorescence only once, and then dies back (though it will usually branch or offset to produce ensuing rosettes). Low-growing ''Aeonium'' species are '' A. tabuliforme'' and '' A. smithii''; large species include '' A. arboreum and'' '' A. valverdense''. They are related to the genera '' Sempervivum'', ''

Aichryson ''Aichryson'' is a genus of about 15 species of succulent, subtropical plants, mostly native to the Canary Islands, with a few in the Azores, Madeira and Morocco. The species of ''Aichryson'' are not frost-resistant. They are related to ''Semper ...

'' and '' Monanthes'', as can be seen by their similar flower and inflorescences. Recently, the genus ''Greenovia'' has been placed within ''Aeonium''.

Species and distribution

All but two species are native to at least one of three different Macaronesian archipelagos (the

, or

Cape Verde , national_anthem = () , official_languages = Portuguese , national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole , capital = Praia , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , demonym ...

) Most aeoniums are from the

, The only species not native to these three Macaronesian island groups (''Aeonium stuessyi'' and Aeonium ''leucoblepharum'') are found in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania; and Ethiopia, Kenya,

Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

, Uganda and Yemen, respectively. '' Aeonium arboreum'' is native to both the Canary Islands and Morocco.

Hybrids

Much hybridising has been done, resulting in several

cultivars A cultivar is a type of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and when Plant propagation, propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and st ...

of mixed or unknown parentage. The following species and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

:- *''Aeonium tabuliforme'' *''Aeonium haworthii'' *''Aeonium haworthii'' 'Variegatum' *''Aeonium'' 'Blushing Beauty' *''Aeonium'' 'Sunburst' *''Aeonium'' 'Zwartkop' Hybridising between Aeonium species or cultivars and other Crassulaeceae species or cultivars has produced intergeneric crosses: * x ''Semponium Sienna' (''Sempervivum'' ‘Green Ice’ x ''Aeonium'' ‘Ice Warrior’). * ''x Semponium'' 'Destiny' - winner of the Royal Horticultural Society

Chelsea Flower Show The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the ''Great Spring Show'',Phil Clayton, ''The Great Temple Show'' in ''The Garden'' 2008, p.452, The Royal Horticultural Society is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural ...

'Chelsea Plant of the Year 2022' award. Some species have been introduced in California. UK national collections of aeoniums are held by Mellie Lewis at

Clun Clun ( cy, Colunwy) is a town in south west Shropshire, England, and the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The 2011 census recorded 680 people living in the town.Combined populations for the two output areas covering the tow ...

in Shropshire and by Inverewe at Poolewe, Wester Ross in Scotland.

Selected species

* '' Aeonium aizoon'' * ''

Aeonium appendiculatum ''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (agele ...

'' * '' Aeonium arboreum'' * '' Aeonium aureum'' * ''

Aeonium balsamiferum ''Aeonium balsamiferum'' ( es, bejeque farrobo) is a species of tropical flowering plant in the family ''Crassulaceae''. The species is endemic in the Canary Islands. Taxonomy The plant was first described by Philip Barker Webb and Sabin Berthel ...

'' * ''

Aeonium canariense ''Aeonium canariense'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It is endemic to the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish ...

'' * ''

Aeonium castello-paivae ''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (agele ...

'' * ''

Aeonium ciliatum ''Aeonium ciliatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the family ''Crassulaceae'' that produces large green leaf rosettes, which can be across. The rosettes emerge from a woody stem that branches freely and can become very top heavy. It is end ...

'' * ''

Aeonium cuneatum ''Aeonium cuneatum'' is a succulent species of flowering plant in the family '' Crassulaceae''. It has a large leaf rosette and no stem. The leaves are smooth but have a grey shine to the upper surface which can be rubbed. It offshoots easily wh ...

'' * '' Aeonium davidbramwellii'' * '' Aeonium decorum'' * '' Aeonium glandulosum'' * '' Aeonium glutinosum'' * ''

Aeonium gomerense ''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (ageles ...

'' * ''

Aeonium gorgoneum ''Aeonium gorgoneum'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. It was first described by Johann Anton Schmidt in 1852. Its local name is ''saião''. The plant plays a role in traditional m ...

'' * ''

Aeonium goochiae ''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (ageles ...

'' * ''

Aeonium haworthii ''Aeonium haworthii'', also known as Haworth's aeonium or pinwheel, is a species of succulent flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It is grown as a houseplant in temperate regions. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of G ...

'' * ''

Aeonium hierrense ''Aeonium hierrense'' is a species of succulent flowering plant in the family '' Crassulaceae'' that is endemic to the island of El Hierro in the Canary islands. It has whorls of strongly ciliate The ciliates are a group of alveolates charact ...

'' * ''

Aeonium leucoblepharum ''Aeonium leucoblepharum'' is a succulent flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('con ...

'' * '' Aeonium lindleyi'' * ''

Aeonium nobile ''Aeonium nobile'' is a succulent, subtropical flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae.

'' * ''

Aeonium sedifolium ''Aeonium sedifolium'' is a perennial flowering plant in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae. The plant is native to the western Canary Islands of Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma. Description ''Aeonium sedifolium'' is a perennial, herbaceous plan ...

'' * ''

Aeonium simsii ''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (ageles ...

'' * '' Aeonium smithii'' * ''

Aeonium spathulatum ''Aeonium'', the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (ageles ...

'' * '' Aeonium tabuliforme'' * '' Aeonium undulatum'' – saucer plant * ''

Aeonium urbicum ''Aeonium urbicum'' is a succulent species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It is endemic to Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish a ...

'' * '' Aeonium valverdense''

Images

File:Aeonium tabuliforme (7577650498).jpg, '' Aeonium tabuliforme'' bearing inflorescence File:Aeonium tabuliforme PICT2232.jpg, Detail of '' Aeonium tabuliforme'' flower File:Aeonium-arboreum-'Atropurpu.jpg, ''Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum File:Aeonium aureum (≡ Greenovia. aurea) (Marianne Perdomo) 1.jpg, ''Aeonium aureum'' File:Aeonium castello-paivae.jpg, ''Aeonium castello-paivae'' File:Aeonium decorum P1050445.JPG, ''Aeonium decorum'' File:Aeonium lindleyi P1050450.JPG, ''Aeonium lindleyi'' File:Aeonium nobile.jpg, ''Aeonium nobile'' File:Aeonium simsii P1050451.JPG, ''Aeonium simsii'' File:Aeonium labuliforme.jpg, ''Aeonium tabuliforme'' File:Aeonium tabuliforme x arboreum 'Zwartkop' 2.jpg, ''Aeonium tabuliforme × arboreum 'Zwartkop' #2'' File:Aeonium undulatum 092.JPG, ''Aeonium undulatum'' File:Aeonium valverdense PICT0545.jpg, ''Aeonium valverdense''

References

* R. Nyffeler, "Aeonium", in Urs Eggli, ed. ''Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae'' (Springer, 2003) * M. Cristini, "The Genus Aeonium" (Rome, 2022) {{Taxonbar, from=Q152874 Crassulaceae genera