Aeonium occidentale

Aeonium x occidentale is a charming plant from the Canary Islands, highly decorative with its characteristic graphic appearance typical of the genus. This Aeonium forms small rosettes of imbricated leaves. It has a slow growth and a low, spreading habit, wider than it is tall, and is recognizable by its succulent green leaves adorned with reddish streaks. Reserved for gardens in the mildest climates, it can be grown in pots throughout France, especially since it is very resistant to dry conditions. It just needs to be overwintered indoors to protect it from frost. It is a fairly easy plant to grow, ideal for a contemporary environment with an exotic touch.

Aeoniums are succulent plants from the Crassulaceae family, which includes about 1500 species, many of which have ornamental value. Everyone knows the popular Kalanchoes with their vibrant flower bouquets that brighten up our interiors, or Echeverias that have been popular in mosaic gardening, while Sedums are essential for green roofs... We could also mention the friendly Joubarbes, or Sempervivum, which are part of our spontaneous flora despite their exotic appearance, and many more.
Aeoniums have a family resemblance that makes them easily identifiable, at least as a genus, but identifying the species or variety is more difficult. And in the case of Aeonium x occidentale, it is particularly challenging because this plant is rather rare. In nature, it only grows in a few locations on the island of La Palma, in the Canary Islands. It is a hybrid between A. sedifolium, with tiny leaves resembling those of a Sedum - hence its name - and A. goochiae, a species that stands out from the majority of others because it prefers shade and likes humidity. From this curious crossbreeding, Aeonium x occidentale was born, a small-growing species that forms a low cushion only about twenty centimetres in height. This plant is particularly remarkable for its very graphic habit, with rosettes of small fleshy leaves, whose spatulate shape widens as they move away from the centre and abruptly ends in a point. The young leaves are closely imbricated at the heart of the rosette and gradually open up like a flower. The rosettes, about 6 to 8cm (2.4 to 3.1in) in diameter, also press against each other, forming a compact clump. A distinctive feature of this plant is the presence of dark red streaks on the leaves, usually forming a median line, sometimes also bordering the leaf.

This Aeonium is especially appreciated for its foliage as its flowering is reputed to be even rarer in cultivation than in nature. It then takes the form of small star-shaped flowers in white-yellow colour, clustered in corymbs above the mass of foliage.

In the mildest climates of our territory, it is advisable to plant this Aeonium in the sun, in poor and well-drained soil, as it will not tolerate having wet feet in winter! Like most other species (and unlike one of its parents), it is drought-tolerant and is particularly suitable for container cultivation, which allows it to be protected during winter.

Aeoniums are a delight for succulent plant enthusiasts, and this little hybrid will delight them with its geometric foliage, almost perfect in its design. Planted in a pot, it will fit perfectly into a contemporary environment, where the purity of its forms will make up for the rarity of its flowering. In climates mild enough to accommodate it in the ground, such as on the French Riviera or southwest England, it can be part of a dry garden, associated with the prickly pears of Opuntias, some of which are hardier than it. In colder climates during winter, there is nothing to stop you from "cheating" and putting its pot in the ground to create the illusion that it is growing there, as is done in some botanical gardens. You can then create an exotic scene by adding plants that are hardier than it, which can withstand winter outdoors, such as the famous Yucca rostrata, which can survive hardeer conditions, or Cylindropuntia imbricata, even more resistant to cold and remarkable for its unique graphic habit. The remarkable Aloe striatula, undoubtedly the most cold-tolerant of the genus, will also be a perfect companion.