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Aeonium hierrense (El Hierro Giant Houseleek) - A beautiful large Aeonium with broad flat rosettes 18 to 24 inches wide of blue-green leaves that when drought stressed can flush pink or even red. These leaves crown a stout (to 2 3/4" thick) stem to 2 feet tall that is decoratively marked with old leaf scars. A monocarpic plant that, when mature, produces a large tower of white to pale pink flowers that rise above the leaves.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and water occasionally. Hardy to at least 25°F. This has among the largest rosettes of all of the Aeoniums, though it is not the tallest.
Aeonium hierrense is in the Aeonium urbicum complex and is very similar to this species, though it is lower growing and more prone to branching. Taxonomic differences include 8 merous flowers rather than the 9 to 10 typical for A. urbicum but the most notable difference is a shorter stem - A. urbicum's stem can be to 4-5 feet tall and has a slightly larger rosette. It is endemic to the island of Hierro in the Canary Island chain were it grows in exposed sunny locations on rocky soils in the eastern and central parts of the island above 1,300 feet. Our plants from seed provided by Rudolf Schultz that was collected at Isora on El Hierro Island at 2690 feet. We grew this plant from 2011 until 2014.
The information about Aeonium hierrense displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
