Hello and welcome to all the new subscribers.
Although I am most focussed on gathering together the most complete collection of dark-leaved Aeonium cultivars in the UK, there has to be a balance and allow other plants a chance to shine too.
Broadly, there are the following groups of plants in the genre of Aeoniums. Species plants that would be, or once, found in the wild, interspecific hybrids which are typically two species plants that have naturally and successfully hybrid in habitat, or in some cases, been created by a skilled grower under the banner of theoretical crosses.
There are cultivars, old and new, that have been created using well known parent plants, bringing together the best characteristics of both, and of course the frantic creation of treated variegated hybrids in recent years, mostly from Asia where plants may have been chemically treated or even radiated to interfere with the DNA or even sprayed with a chemical to temporarily alter the appearance of the Aeonium, leaving you with potentially a short-lived plant. The commercial market is driven by what sells best and how much some people will pay for these novelties. For me, the latter is the complete opposite of what I am trying to do in the conservation of the old originals without which few of the Asian plants could ever have been brought to market.
As with most other type of garden plants, like roses, dahlias, tulips etc. it can take many years to produce a new cultivar that consistently grows and keeps it form in a mass market. For most of us we might take a cutting of a plant and hope to root it and grow it on, in the mass market however, looking for huge volumes to supply a global demand, techniques like tissue culture are very much the norm.
My advice is that before you spend huge sums of £ on a fancy plant try to understand it’s parentage, if you can find out what it is, this might give you a clue as to it’s preferred growing conditions. You might just a have a rush of excitement and buy a plant that can be hard to keep alive.
Below are a few sets of photos taken this week of plants in my own collection here at the GreenHouse that do not represent too much of a challenge to produce something to be proud of.
Some of my dark-leaved plants.
A selection of attractive variegated plants.
And a bunch of species linked plants.
There are plenty of Aeoniums that are suitable for less experienced growers, but once you are hooked you’ll soon want to challenge yourself, and at that point you might just spend a little extra £ one day on that “must have” plant.
Whichever plant type you choose, enjoy mastering what helps it grow best.
Happy growing
Steve
