Aeonium ‘Halloween’ f. variegata
Aeonium ‘Halloween’ f. variegata features wide, saucer-like rosettes with a spectacular tricolor variegation of creamy yellow, mint green, and deep ribbon-pink margins. This specialized cultivar develops intense, dark apricot and burgundy tones when exposed to bright light or cooler weather, producing a distinct seasonal color shift. It grows on a branching, woody shrub structure, holding its heavy, fleshy rosettes at the tips of smooth, greyish-brown stems.
Origin and Natural Habitat
Horticultural cultivar that does not occur naturally.
Plant Characteristics
This Aeonium is the variegated form of the cultivar ‘Halloween’. It forms a compact rosette with an attractive rainbow of colours, including yellow, purple, red and green. Its colouration may vary depending on the amount of light it receives.
Colouration may vary between dark green with red, and light green with yellow, depending on the season or amount of light received.
Care Guide
Light
Aeonium should be protected from some of the sun’s harshness. They prefer morning and evening sun, but might be damaged by the heat during mid-day. In cultivation, they should therefore be kept under no more than 60% shade cloth. This encourages stronger colouration and a more compact growth form while preventing sun damage. If they are being kept outdoors, but not in a greenhouse, then full morning sun is suitable.
Soil
Aeonium are not fussy plants when it comes to soil mixes. They will survive in pretty much any mix that drains well. To get them to thrive, plant your Aeonium in a well-drained coco-peat based mixture. You can add some perlite to assist with drainage. These plants prefer organic mixes as their roots are quite fine, and do not fare well in overly gritty mixes.
Water
In cultivation, Aeonium can be watered year-round, though care should be taken to let the soil dry out somewhat in summer. You can keep the soil somewhat moist in winter, but not completely wet.
Pot size
Aeonium will grow comfortably in a 10cm pot when they are small. Some cultivars and species can become quite large, and should be accommodated in 12-15cm pots.
Temperature
Aeonium‘s ideal temperature ranges between 10 – 20*C. It can tolerate 5 – 30*C. Aeonium do not tolerate frost well, as their leaves are quite thin. Make sure to cover your plants in frost netting or keep them indoors during the coldest parts of winter.
Humidity
Aeonium thrive with plenty of humidity during their growing season, but humidity should be reduced in summer.
Fertilizing
Use a half-strength diluted general liquid fertilizer only during the growing season. Do not fertilize during summer. Alternatively, a small amount of slow-release fertilizer will be sufficient.
Growing Season
Aeonium have a rather long growing season, stretching from autumn until mid-spring. They do however slow down during the peaks of summer and winter, when it is either too hot or cold.
In South Africa, their peak growing season is from March until June, and then from mid-August until October.
Propagation
Aeonium are best propagated from stem cuttings.
Stem propagation: Aeonium is easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Only take cuttings in autumn and spring. Cuttings will not root well in mid-winter or summer. Simply use a sterilized sharp knife to remove a cutting from the main stem. Make sure it is at least one third of the size of the main ‘head’ of the plant before removing it, otherwise it may struggle to survive. Let this cutting air dry for two to three weeks. It should begin to produce aerial roots on its own. Plant the cuttings in the same soil as the mother plant.
