Aeonium 'Bronze Medal' – A very attractive small to medium sized succulent shrub that forms a compact round habit to 18 inches tall by as wide with 2.5-inch-wide rosettes of inch long succulent medium green colored spathulate leaves at branch tips that are held so closely together that the stems and base of the plant are hidden. In summer months the outer leaves in the rosette take on bronze tones and are sometimes lightly streaked with red markings. Attractive stary pale yellow flowers appear in tight clusters on short leafy red tinged inflorescences in spring.
This plant grows well in full sun to part sun near the coast and partial shade inland. Water occasionally to infrequently – drought tolerant in coastal gardens but It is not harmed by summer fertilizing and irrigation that sometimes troubles other Aeonium varieties. It is hardy to short duration temperatures down to 25 degrees F. A great looking tight cultivar that grows well in the garden or in a container.
The name Aeonium comes for Greek word 'aionion' or 'aionios' meaning immortal or everlasting for its succulent nature and presumed longevity. This plant was first introduced through the Huntington Garden's International Succulent Introductions program as Aeonium 'Bronze Medal' ISI 2002-6 and noted to be cuttings from their accession HBG 86243, which was a plant with unknown parentage, but its compact rosettes with leaves sometimes streaked with red has led to speculation that Aeonium sedifolium is one of the parents. We thank John Bleck for our first cuttings of this charming plant.
The information about Aeonium 'Bronze Medal' 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. |