Aeonium undulatum or Stalked Aeonium

Care of the succulent plant Aeonium undulatum or Stalked Aeonium

The genus Aeonium, of the Crassulaceae family, comprises 75 species of succulent plants native to the Canary Islands, Madeira, East Africa and Morocco. Some species are: Aeonium undulatum, Aeonium spathulatum, Aeonium mascaense, Aeonium canariense, Aeonium arboreum, Aeonium glutinosum, Aeonium percarneum, Aeonium tabulaeforme, Aeonium simsii, Aeonium virgineum.

Common name: Stalked Aeonium. This species is native to Canary Islands.

They are bushy succulent plants (up to 90 cm/2.95 feet high) that do not branch and develop large and beautiful rosettes up to 30 cm (1 feet) in diameter. The leaves are spatulate in shape, are longer than in other aeonium species, have cilia on the margin and are bright green; if they get a lot of sun, the edges of the leaves turn reddish. The flowers are yellow and appear in a spectacular pyramidal inflorescence. They can take years to bloom but then the plant dies.

The main uses of these plants are: in pots, in groups of several specimens on edges or in the front of shrub groups and in rockeries and cactus and succulent gardens. They are ideal for Mediterranean coastal gardens.

Aeonium undulatum can be cultivated in an exposure of full sun or in a half shade. If the summer is hot and dry it is better to place them in semi-shade (for example in Mediterranean climate). Although it could tolerate some sporadic frost of about -3 ºC (26.6 ºF) it is better that the thermometer does not drop below 5 ºC (41 ºF).

The soil needs excellent drainage for which a commercial substrate for cacti and succulents can be used to which a little coarse sand will be added. They can live in poor, sandy soil. The pot transplant or planting in its final place is done in early spring, separating the specimens by about 30 cm (11.81").

Water moderately, bearing in mind that they tolerate drought well. It is important to wait until the soil has dried and water very little in winter (once a month).

They do not need pruning or fertilization.

They are resistant to the usual pests but are sensitive to excess moisture.

They are usually propagated from seeds collected from the same plant since it dies after flowering.