AeoniumAeonium are without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and sought after additions to succulent collections. They reward our efforts with gorgeous spoon shaped foliage in shades of burgundy and green, sometimes variegated with splashes of palest gold. Aeonium are native to the Canary Islands and North Africa, so you may be able to tell their preferred conditions. Warm, or even hot would be the key word. The name means ‘evergreen’ so this is a plant that never loses its leaves – until after it blooms that is. The pink, red, yellow or white flowers form from the middle of the rosette in spring or summer, after which the rosette will die. Hopefully, you will have propagated some rosettes to take its place.
Easy to propagate, just remove a rosette with a piece of stem and allow to callous overnight and the stem end can be planted into a pot. Growing RequirementsMinimum temperatures are about 4 degrees Celsius, and Aeonium can’t take any frost, so a sheltered or indoors environment only for this plant. It requires good ventilation, and bright light – full sun is fine, or partial shade. Aeonium prefer a little more moisture in the soil than many other succulent plants. Water as soon as the soil is dry, but don’t allow it to dry too much. Gear the watering to the temperature; the cooler the weather, the less you need to water. Use tempered or lukewarm water to avoid shocking the roots. Preferred soil is well drained, sandy and slightly acid to neutral, so don’t add any lime to the soil mix. Prices of all three Aeonium are $10.00 each for bare root plants. 
The lovely velvety texture and rich colour of Aeonium arboretum 'Velour' is very recognizable. The sheen of the foliage appears to be in 'soft focus'. The botanical term 'arboretum' refers to a tree like form, so this plant will get quite big. Luckily, beheading the rosettes to grow new plants will encourage more buds to break lower down, making it bushier. 
Soft shades of pale banana, strawberry and lime make this plant a tropical treat. Unhappy in full sun where it tends to sunburn it prefers shade in the afternoon but still bright light. Smaller in stature than the two purple varieties shown here, it will form a short clump rather than the tree like form of the others. The same conditions of soil and water apply. 
This is the one everyone thinks of as typical of the genus as it's one of the oldest cultivars. Rightfully popular, even after all this time with its glossy foliage and bossy attitude. Regular beheading will keep Aeonium 'Schwartzkopf' in bounds and give you a supply of new plants to replace the aging rosette when it blooms.
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