This variety received its name from the world renown Aloe breeder and senior Santa Barbara plantsman, John Bleck, because of its green foliage and robust spreading growth habit reminded him of the smiling mascot of the frozen vegetable brand Green Giant that originated in a 1925 marketing campaign used by the Minnesota Valley Canning Company for a new larger variety of Pea. John's original plant has been a durable 12- to 18-inch-tall spreading groundcover that formed a solid stand about 6 feet wide. This plant was a spontaneous seedling hybrid resulting from unintentional hybridization between several species of Aeonium that were planted in his garden.

San Marcos Growers first introduced this very popular succulent plant to the horticultural trade in 1998 and has continued to grow this great landscape plant ever since. It was the first of a series of plants we received from John Bleck that we gave the "Jolly" moniker to, including Aeonium 'Jolly Towers', Aeonium 'Jolly Clusters' and Senecio 'Jolly Gray'. 

This information about Aeonium 'Jolly Green' 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.