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This plant has
deep purple fan shaped crest that truly stand out against
the blue of the sky.
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Description: It is a crested succulent
shrub that produces magnificent, fun shaped purple, leaf rosettes at the
ends of its branches and seems to to change in and out of its crested
mode during the years.
Stem: Forms grey-green beached trunk, spread 25 to 40.
Rosettes: Rosettes are formed at the ends of the stems.
Flowers: Light yellow flowers that form long clusters.
Blooming season: Summer.
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Cultivation: It requires gritty well drained
potting mix. Water deeply but infrequently. Plants are allowed to
thoroughly dry in-between waterings. During the
winter months restrict water to about once a month, or just enough to
keep the foliage from shrivelling. Position in
full to part sun in a sheltered spot, but the bright light enhances the
rich hues of the darker Aeoniums, and the subtle blushes of the other
colours, but prefers light shade to shade in summer. The plants tend to
go dormant in the summer and look a little tired sometimes, but they
perk up again in the fall. Summer is the natural dormant season for this
species in its native land. Needs protection from severe winter frosts
(Hardy to -2°C or a little less for short periods), over winter under
glass in all but the mildest of gardens.
Propagation: It is easily propagated by cuttings in the spring.
When the stem becomes too tall, just cut the top
rosette with a piece of stem and plant it. It will soon take root, while
the plant left with just the stem will soon grow new buds that can be in
turn used for propagation. Time to take cuttings: April to July
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Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
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Scientific name: Aeonium
arboreum var artopurpureum 'forma cristata
Origin:
Garden origin (Nursery
produced cultivar) For a long time this choicest
cultivar has been considered a
sport of the Aeonium arboretum.
It now seems that it comes from the Canary
Islands, thus
it then cannot be a cultivar of A. arboreum,
since A. arboreum doesn't come from there.
The latest theory is that it is a cultivar from A. manriqueorum.
Common Names include: Crested Black rose,
Crested Black Beauty,
Crested Black Tree Aeonium
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Synonyms:
- Aeonium manriqueorum forma cristata
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The 20 cm rosette of almost black leaves on a light grey trunk is very
showy. Looks wonderful next to any blue turquoise succulent.
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of Aeonium arboreum.
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