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Aeonium aureum (Green Rose Buds) - A large offsetting form of a usually solitary species that forms clumps to 16 inches in diameter with 3 to 50 rosettes that are 4 to 10 inches wide but large individuals can reach 14 inches if not offsetting. The pale apple-green leaves flush out in winter and close up in tight rounded balls in a summer dormancy. This plant is monocarpic with the central plants maturing in 3 to 4 years before sending up a stiff erect inflorescence of bright yellow flowers followed by a seed set. The seed on this species are held in hard woody fruits that are typical of the Aeonium that were previously known as Greenovia which also have flowers with twice the petal count.
Plant in cool coastal gardens in full sun or in shade (likely requires shade inland) in a well-drained soil and allow to be dormant in summer, only watering lightly if at all until fall once the leaves close up. This Aeonium tolerates lower light than any other and is a nice interesting plant for a wall garden or container.
The species is found on many islands in the Canary Island chain including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, Hierro and Gomera. It is primarily a plant of the mist zones at lower elevations near the coast but also within the pine and laurel forests. It is often found on vertical cliffs or on flat rocks in lichen fields. Our plants from seed provided by Rudolf Schultz from a giant off-setting form from a Lava flow at 3,280 ft near Isora on El Hierro. The plant is called Green Rose Buds for the look of the rosettes when dormant. It is also called Canary Golden Mountain Rose.
This information about Aeonium aureum 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.
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