Aeonium ciliatum - A tall shrubby succulent to 4 to 6 feet by as wide with large 1-foot-wide terminal rosettes of gray-green leaves that have ciliate reddish margins and smaller rosettes branching below from along the main stem which is gray colored and textured with brown leaf scars. Both this branching and stem texture are distinguishing characteristic of this species. In early summer the showy dome-shaped inflorescence bearing small cream flowers rises another 2 feet above the foliage.
Plant in a well-drained soil in full coastal sun to light shade - with more sun the plants remain shorter with more reddish highlights along the leaf margins but in shade it grows tallest with larger rosettes. Is drought tolerant in our coastal gardens but looks lusher with occasional summer irrigation. Cold hardy to 25 °F.
Aeonium ciliatum is endemic to Tenerife, the largest and most populated of the Canary Islands, where it grows along the summit and northern slopes of the Anaga region. It differs from the closely related Aeonium urbicum in having leaves that are glabrous, on stems that are branched and has scaly leaf scars. While the generally the taller Aeonium urbicum has leaves with hairs and with solitary rosettes on smooth stems. Aeonium urbicum also is spring blooming while A. ciliatum begins flowering in summer. Our stock plants came from the Huntington Botanic Garden in 2008 with their accession number HBG81087 and this plant was an International Succulent Introduction in 2007 as ISI 2007-11 that was originally collected in 1997, by N. Barboza at Lomo de las Bodegas in the Anaga Mountains at the northern tip of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. We first offered this plant in 2016.
The information about Aeonium ciliatum 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. |