Aeonium arboreum ‘Schwarzkopf’

Scientific Name
Aeonium arboreum ‘Schwarzkopf’

Common Name
Black Rose, Black Beauty

Origin
Originating from the Mediterranean, namely North Africa and the Canary Islands

Description
This Aeonium's bold colouring makes it stand out whether growing wild in the Canaries or tame on your windowsill! Known for it's dark, almost black foliage, these plants stand out on their own, or provide great contrast in a display.

Light
Needs lots of bright light! This plant will love your sunniest window; if in doubt, choose a South- or West-facing window ledge.

Water
Adapted to the driest parts of the Mediterranean, this plant likes its soil to totally dry out between waters. Make sure not to water too frequently; this plant prefers drought to flood.

Humidity
This plant is adapted to arid areas so likes dry air and doesn't need it to be humid. A hose down to dust it is fine as long as it can totally dry out afterwards.

Soil
A well-draining mix, with components like sand and grit, will help this plant's roots to not get soggy! A mix designed for cacti or succulents like this one would be ideal. Repot every 3-4 years as the plant grows.

Food
Feed every three to four months throughout the year; a specific cactus feed will have the perfect balance of nutrients, though a general houseplant feed will be fine too.

Temperature
Ideally likes temperatures of 16-30°C; make sure it doesn't drop below 5°C in winter. This plant can be grown outdoors above 5°C!

Pet-safe
Yes, but too much nibbling won't be good for pets, small humans or the plant!

Sprouts Top Tips
Aeoniums may die after flowering; you can take stem cuttings to avoid losing your plant in this case. The key with caring for this one is making sure you don't overwater; let the soil totally dry out between watering! Rapidly yellowing leaves are a sign of overwatering to look out for. If you notice the stem going woody, that's fine- this is just your plant maturing.