Cynthia Snowden ) wrote

On a recent holiday in The Scillies I purchased a 'black' Aeonium from a
garden stall - there was no-one around to ask advice. The Aeonium seems to
be a popular garden plant in the Scillies and I am hoping that it will
thrive here in North Devon. Is it OK for me to plant it in the garden or
should I keep it in the porch for the winter before risking putting it
outside?

I live on Arran, seaside climate, mild though not as warm as the
Scillies, but I've yet to see an aeonium permanently planted outside
here. Most people here seem to grow them in pots, outddors in summer,
and put the pots under glass or cover for winter, so that's what I'm
doing with two I acquired in spring. I suspect the Scillies are drier
than here, and rain might be more of a threat to them than a minor
chill.

I understand that one can propagate them by literally cutting off the
rosette with a couple of inches of stem and planting this cutting.
Meanwhile the original plant will develop a couple of new rosettes. At the
moment my plant just has the one rosette. Would it be advisable to 'cut off
its head' at this early stage?

Dunno. Mine were both a bit feeble when I got them (yoghurt pots in
village plant sale) but have come on tremendously in the warm summer
we've had and look cracking atm. I'm going to wait till spring to
propagate. When I've got spares will be the time for hardiness trials
next winter.

Does anyone know if "black" aeonium Schwarzkopf was really named after
the American general? Mine were labelled " Stormin' Norman" :-)

Janet