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Aeonium nobile (Noble Aeonium) - A robust species that forms large rosettes to 12 to 15 inches across with thick fleshy orange to red-tinged olive-green rounded-tip triangular leaves that form atop a stout upright unbranched stem 1 to 2 feet tall. After a couple to several years, the plant matures and in late winter to spring produces a large inflorescence that rises on a red stalk to display a flattened capitate head over 1 foot wide and nearly as tall with many small star-shaped red flowers with white anthers. This is one of the monocarpic species of Aeonium so it only flowers once but then often gardeners are rewarded with many seeds to perpetuate this beautiful plant.
Grows well in shade but develops the red coloration best when grown in full coastal sun or at least part sun inland. Here along the coast it is drought tolerant but tolerates regular irrigation so long as the soil is very well draining. Hardy to the mid to low 20's F with reported leaf damage around 20F. An easy to grow plant that is great planted in a dry succulent planting or used as an unusual potted specimen.
Aeonium nobile is endemic to the Canary Islands where it can be found growing in lava rock and experiences dry summers while the plant is dormant. The name from the genus comes for Greek word 'aionion' or 'aionios' meaning immortal or everlasting for its succulent nature and presumed longevity. The specific epithet means "noble" or "aristocratic" in reference to the large size of its rosettes but it could just as well describe the beautiful tower of red flowers.
This species has always been a bit rarer than most other Aeonium and many consider it to be the showiest in the genus. We offered it for sale from 2009 until 2019.
The information displayed on this page about Aeonium nobile is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.
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