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Aeonium saundersii (Martian Heads Aeonium) - A small sub-shrub that remains under 1 foot with small rosettes not much more than 1 inch wide on well branched delicate stems. The rosettes have 10 to 15 rounded succulent green leaves that have hairs and a hint of red along the margins showing from the hairy red underside and the leaves are pleasantly scented when crushed. In mid spring appear the single lemon-yellow flowers, nearly as large as a rosette, followed by the leaves darkening and curling inwards to ball up like a fist to conserve moisture for summer dormancy - a very odd plant indeed.
Plant in coastal sun or shaded or morning sun in a well-drained soil and irrigated occasionally to more infrequently in summer. Seems to tolerate some summer watering if soil drains well and then does not go as dormant but can also tolerate summer drought as a dormant plant and overwatering in summer can rot the roots, which then initiates aerial root production from the base of the living rosettes. We have seen information indicating that this plant is hardy to 20 °F. We think this pant best as an interesting potted specimen, hanging basket or planted in a pocket in a rock wall.
Aeonium saundersii grows naturally on steep slopes, sometimes north facing, on the Island of Gomera in the Canary Islands. 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 honors the English botanist, horticulturist and entomologist William W. Sunders (1809-1879). Another common name for this plant is Gomera Dwarf Aeonium. We received this curious plant from John Bleck and we grew it from 2014 to 2018.
The information displayed on this page about Aeonium saundersii 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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