Aeonium arboreum Kilimandjaro - Tree Houseleek

The Aeonium arboreum 'Kilimanjaro' is a Chinese horticultural hybrid with extremely decorative foliage. Very compact and therefore perfectly suited for pot culture, it forms a small tuft a little wider than high, made up of numerous terminal rosettes carried on short axes. Their purple colour on the periphery turns green towards the centre, while a median streak stretches from the base to the tip in colours ranging from cream to red. In spring, the plant is adorned with clusters of small yellow flowers, beautifully complemented by the dark foliage. Frost-sensitive, it should be overwintered practically everywhere in France, or protected in milder climates.

Aeonium is a succulent plant of the Crassulaceae family, which includes 30 genera and nearly 1400 species, widely used for ornamental purposes, such as the famous exotic Kalanchoe, so common in our interiors. The Houseleek (Sempervivum), on the other hand, is part of our native flora, while also presenting great ornamental qualities.
There are 45 Aeonium species, all sharing a family resemblance, most of which are native to the Canary Islands. The hybrid 'Kilimanjaro' is a Chinese creation that appeared on the market before 2020. According to some sources, this cultivar will be derived from the 'Medusa' variety itself descended from the 'Velour' Aeonium, but other specialists question this lineage. Nevertheless, this variety immediately captivated with the beauty and originality of its foliage, as well as its compactness. This small Aeonium does not exceed 40 to 50 cm in height and 30 to 40 cm in width, making it an ideal subject for container planting. Resistant only to light frosts, it should be sheltered during winter and can only be planted in the most protected areas of the French Riviera. Like other varieties, it forms perfectly geometric rosettes, arranged at the ends of the short shoots in Kilimanjaro, giving a practically pyramidal silhouette. Tightly packed together, the rosettes of varying diameters intermingle in a skillful disorder that adds charm to the plant. The succulent leaves are spatulate and mucronate: narrow at their attachment to the branch, they widen to reach their maximum width near the opposite end before abruptly rounding and ending in a very slight point. The young leaves that form from the centre are tiny and arranged 360°, enlarging as they move away, forming a rosette of approximately 6 to 10 cm in diameter. The centre is green, then turns increasingly purple on the outer concentric circles. Starting from the base to the tip of the leaf, a striated margin stretches along the entire length, transitioning from a cream yellow in the centre that contrasts with the green, to a red that stands out on the purple periphery. In winter, the colours are slightly less intense and regain vigour in the summer sun. It is particularly interesting to position the plant so that the rising sun rays can shine through its foliage, creating absolutely stunning transparency effects.
Adult plants also produce a very attractive flowering in the form of pyramidal clusters, composed of small starry yellow flowers. Carried on short floral stems, they bloom from April to June, creating a strong contrast with the darker foliage.

Well adapted to drought once sufficiently rooted, Aeonium is the epitome of an easy plant that won't risk dying during your summer holidays. Its very poor hardiness requires it to be grown in pots almost everywhere, which it generally tolerates well, and even more so this compact 'Kilimanjaro' hybrid. It will adorn your terrace while you shelter it in a frost-free and bright location during winter to best preserve its beautiful colours, which fade if lacking sunlight. You can create an exotic setting by pairing it with other tender plants with distinctive looks such as the Aloe vera, both decorative and useful, as its sap applied to the skin immediately soothes burns. A bit hardier, the Agapanthus 'Charlotte' forms a magnificent potted display with starry light blue flowers veined with dark, which have the good taste to bloom from June to September. This beautiful exotic perennial will bring joy to your plant scene.