Aeonium arboreum Du Rozzen

The 'Du Rozzen' Aeonium arboreum is a particularly aesthetic hybrid, recognizable by its elongated and lanceolate leaves. This variety displays a vibrant purple colour all year round, while many others turn green in winter. This is its main asset, combined with a compact and dense habit that is very decorative thanks to the perfect geometry of its rosettes. The green heart of the rosettes creates a pleasant contrast with the surrounding dark purple, making them perfect decorative potted plants. Not very hardy, it is recommended to cultivate it in a pot to overwinter it frost-free. Highly resistant to heat and drought, it is the ideal plant for our increasingly hot summers!

Aeoniums are succulent plants belonging to the Crassulaceae family, which includes around 1500 species, many of which have ornamental value. Everyone knows the popular Kalanchoe with their bright flower bouquets that brighten up our interiors, or Echeveria that have been the stars of mosaic culture, while Sedums are essential for green roofs... We could also mention the friendly Joubarbes, or Sempervivum, which are part of our spontaneous flora despite their exotic appearance, and many others.

Aeoniums have a family resemblance that makes them easy to identify - at least as a genus, because when it comes to species or variety, it becomes more difficult. 'Du Rozzen', on the other hand, is quite easily identifiable because of the unique shape of its foliage. Its lanceolate leaves are tapered like swords, gradually widening as they move away from the base, before ending abruptly in a point. This very geometric and particularly graphic pattern contributes greatly to the grace of this hybrid. Introduced to the market in 2014 by Penberth Plants Nursery in the United Kingdom, its parents are 'Zwartkop' (or 'Schwarzkopf', a variety with almost black purple foliage that has been widely hybridized) and another Aeonium, possibly A. simsii, a small montane Aeonium. 'Du Rozzen' is also quite similar to the varieties 'Firecracker' and 'Carmen', which also have very graceful foliage.

The charm of 'Du Rozzen' is that it retains its purple colour in winter, while many other varieties turn green when sunlight is no longer sufficient. Only the heart is green, which further enhances the visual impact of the purple leaves. In addition, this small Aeonium is very compact, reaching a maximum height of 40cm (15.7in) and a width of 60cm (23.6in), but sometimes limiting itself to 30 x 30cm (11.8in), forming a superb potted plant. Not very hardy, it is indeed more prudent to cultivate it in this way, unless you have a frost-free niche situation on the French Riviera, which is never guaranteed 100%. Choose a well-draining potting soil and place your Aeonium in full sun, it only requires occasional watering in summer, making sure to let the soil completely dry out between waterings, and it will embellish your balcony or terrace throughout the summer season. Almost maintenance-free plant, except for a possible cleaning in summer to remove dead leaves: its prolific growth produces a large number of rosettes, which then compete for available space. To support its development, you can also provide slow-release fertilizer in spring.

Aeoniums form a group of succulent plants that are visually stunning with their graphic shapes and perfectly geometric, imbricate rosettes of leaves. Their low hardiness is compensated by their excellent drought tolerance, which allows them to be easily cultivated in pots, alone or in combination with other plants. In a container, you can create beautiful contrasts of shapes and colours by planting it with other graphic plants. Senecio mandraliscae, with its trailing habit and incredible silver-blue colour, will create a surprise alongside 'Du Rozzen'. Your small Aeonium can also be planted under the shelter of a veranda in a not too cold climate, where it can thrive protected from frost alongside other frost-sensitive plants. Pachypodium lamerei, which appears to be a cross between a palm tree and a baobab, will be a good companion, as it is a plant from the Oleander family, with a swollen stem topped with elongated leaves, giving it a unique and graphic appearance. Another companion could also be the famous Aloe vera, which grows very well in a veranda, forming a large clump with multiple offsets after a few years. You will appreciate having it on hand in case of burns, as its sap provides immediate relief from pain.