Tree aeonium Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Tree aeonium

Scientific classification
Genus:	Aeonium
Species:	arboreum
Synonyms
Aeonium doramae Webb ex A.Berger nom. inval. Aeonium doremae Webb ex Christ Aeonium holochrysum Webb & Berthel. Aeonium manriqueorum Bolle Aeonium rubrolineatum Svent. Aeonium vestitum Svent. Sempervivum arboreum L. Sempervivum urbicum Lindl. nom. illeg.

The tree aeonium (scientific name: Aeonium arboreum) is a cool plant often called the tree houseleek or Irish rose. It's a type of succulent plant, which means it stores water in its leaves. This plant grows like a small bush in warm, subtropical places. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family, which includes many other succulents.

Sometimes, this plant can spread easily and grow where it's not native. For example, in parts of southern Australia, it has escaped from gardens and grown wild.

What the Tree Aeonium Looks Like
- Leaves and Rosettes
- Flowers and Blooms
Where the Tree Aeonium Grows
How People Grow Tree Aeoniums
Different Types of Tree Aeonium
Gallery
See also

What the Tree Aeonium Looks Like

Aeonium arboreum growing in a bush.

The tree aeonium grows as a subshrub, which is like a small bush. It can reach up to 2 metres (about 6.5 feet) tall. Its main stem is usually straight or grows upwards. This stem is smooth and can be 1 to 3 centimetres (about 0.4 to 1.2 inches) thick.

Leaves and Rosettes

At the end of each stem, the leaves grow in flat, circular shapes called rosettes. These rosettes can be 10 to 25 centimetres (about 4 to 10 inches) wide. When the leaves are young, they are pressed tightly together.

Each leaf is shaped like an obovate (wider at the top) or lanceolate (long and narrow) spear. The tip of the leaf is pointed, and the base is wedge-shaped. Leaves are about 5 to 15 centimetres (2 to 6 inches) long. They are also 1 to 4.5 centimetres (0.4 to 1.8 inches) wide and 1.5 to 3 millimetres (0.06 to 0.12 inches) thick. The leaves are usually green, but often have a purple color and a shiny surface. The edges of the leaves have small, curved hairs, like eyelashes.

Flowers and Blooms

The flowers grow in a cone-shaped or oval cluster called an inflorescence. This flower cluster is 10 to 25 centimetres (4 to 10 inches) long and 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) wide. The stem holding the flowers is about 5 to 20 centimetres (2 to 8 inches) long.

Each tiny flower sits on a short stem, 2 to 12 millimetres long. The sepals (small leaf-like parts that protect the bud) are slightly fuzzy. They have a pointed top and a wedge-shaped base. The sepals can be shiny green, red, or purple. The yellow petals (the colorful parts of the flower) are narrow and pointed. They are 5 to 7 millimetres long and 1.5 to 2 millimetres wide. The stamens (the parts that produce pollen) are smooth. In spring, the plant produces these rosettes of leaves and large, pyramid-shaped clusters of bright yellow flowers.

Where the Tree Aeonium Grows

This plant naturally grows only on the western Canary Islands. These islands include Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, and Gran Canaria.

Any tree aeonium plants found in places like the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) or along the Moroccan coast are likely neophytes. This means they were brought there by people and are not native to those areas. In cooler places, people usually need to grow this plant indoors or in a greenhouse.

How People Grow Tree Aeoniums

Aeonium arboreum likes to grow in sunny or partly shaded spots. It prefers soil that comes from weathered volcanic rock.

One special type of tree aeonium is called 'Zwartkop' (or 'Schwartzkopf'). This type has beautiful purple leaves. It has even won an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, which is a big award for garden plants! There is also a 'variegated' type, which means its leaves have different colors or patterns.