Succulent works are not everyone ’s loving cup of tea , but one which attracted a quite a little of look up to glanceswhen we opened our gardenfor the National Gardens Scheme wasAeonium arboreum‘Zwartkop ’ . It ’s barely surprising given its peak ( hencearboreum , meaning ‘ tree - like ’ ) and the colouration of the fleshy leaves , which are quite unlike the average houseleek . The shiny , purple - black rosettes which top each stem add the industrial plant its common name ‘ black rose ’ , rather nicer than the unmediated translation of ‘ Zwartkop ’ , which is ‘ black head ’ .
Anyone who ’s made a trip to West Cornwall or The Isles of Scilly will recogniseAeonium‘Zwartkop ’ from the meek coastal gardens in this part of the UK . When we visited the island ofTrescoin April , the sub - tropical Abbey Gardens were full of mature , well - branched plants topped with chunky panicles of bright yellow flowers . These appear only in the most favoured locations ; those with the greatest law of similarity to the Aeonium ’s native Canary Islands and North Africa . Hardiness is an issue elsewhere in the country , so even in balmy Broadstairs I keep my works indoors when there is any hazard of hoarfrost .
Despite its philia , A. ‘ Zwartkop ’ is happiest outdoors in a sunny , well drained spot . Even if overwintered indoors it can be bedded out during the summertime . AtThe Salutationaeoniums are used as a striking accent plant in Lutyen ’s white garden . I keep my plant in pots and use them to mark a mass of dahlias , lily and ginger by the front door . If produce indoors A. ‘ Zwartkop ’ needs the brightest spot you may proffer , and even then the leaves will seldom be as extravagantly colour as they are international . Keep a close eye out for tiny green cat which can destroy the gist of the russet scab in late autumn .
Happily A. ‘ Zwartkop ’ is extremely light to look after , necessitate very little water in wintertime ( perhaps a drop every fortnight ) and a weekly drink in summer . Aeoniums like ironic atmosphere , so are quite happy in a centrally het up way . Propagation is equally straightforward . Leaf rosettes with a few inch of stem can be reduce cleanly off from the plant with a knife and the cut surface left for a week or two in order of magnitude to callus over before potting into in a coarse-grained , well - drained compost . The dry out stage is essential to avoid rot put in and to promote settle down from the face of the stem . Within a month or two the unexampled industrial plant will be growing away strongly whilst the old one produces a number of novel rosette , serve to create a well - ramous bush . This process can be carried out several times , meaning lashings of free plant life to give to your envious friends . If you are selfish like me , plants can be allowed to grow magniloquent and noble-minded , utter for make a instruction in the garden .
ForAeonium arboreum‘Zwartkop ’ and a great natural selection of other choice , named aeonium varieties , visitTrewidden Nursery ’s website .
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Categories : Container horticulture , Cornish Gardens , Flowers , Foliage , Plant Portraits , Plants , Tropical Gardens
Posted by The Frustrated Gardener
A. ‘Zwartkop’ is easily propagated, so you can be sure of a ready supply of small plants to use or give away
Mature plants grown in mild locations should produce panicles of golden yellow flowers
When allowed to grow tall, A. ‘Zwartkop’ mixes well with other tender exotics
Spot the black head! Him Indoors soaks up the sun in Tresco’s Abbey Gardens
