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Aeonium nobile (Noble Aeonium) - A robust species that forms large rosettes to 12 to 15 inches across with thick fleshy orange to red-tinged olive-green rounded-tip triangular leaves that form atop a stout upright unbranched stem 1 to 2 feet tall. After a couple to several years, the plant matures and in late winter to spring produces a large inflorescence that rises on a red stalk to display a flattened capitate head over 1 foot wide and nearly as tall with many small star-shaped red flowers with white anthers. This is one of the monocarpic species of Aeonium so it only flowers once but then often gardeners are rewarded with many seeds to perpetuate this beautiful plant.
Grows well in shade but develops the red coloration best when grown in full coastal sun or at least part sun inland. Here along the coast it is drought tolerant but tolerates regular irrigation so long as the soil is very well draining. Hardy to the mid to low 20's F with reported leaf damage around 20F. An easy to grow plant that is great planted in a dry succulent planting or used as an unusual potted specimen.
Aeonium nobile is endemic to the Canary Islands where it can be found growing in lava rock and experiences dry summers while the plant is dormant. The name from the genus comes for Greek word 'aionion' or 'aionios' meaning immortal or everlasting for its succulent nature and presumed longevity. The specific epithet means "noble" or "aristocratic" in reference to the large size of its rosettes but it could just as well describe the beautiful tower of red flowers.
This species has always been a bit rarer than most other Aeonium and many consider it to be the showiest in the genus. We offered it for sale from 2009 until 2019.
This information about Aeonium nobile displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate 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 that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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