- Mature height
- 40cm to 80cm
- Mature width
- 60cm to 1m
Aeonium 'Blush' is a hybrid succulent forming large symmetrical rosettes on short branching stems. Each leaf grades from a pale green centre through cream to pink and red at the margin, and the colouring strengthens as light increases and the weather cools. It is evergreen and low growing, with yellow flower heads in spring.
Give it full sun for the strongest margins, with light afternoon shade in hot inland areas where variegated leaves can scorch. The soil must drain freely, so a sandy or gritty mix in a raised bed or pot works best. Growth is 15 to 30 centimetres a year. Frost will mark and rot the foliage.
Mature plants stand around 40 to 60 centimetres tall and spread a little wider as they branch. It suits succulent beds, rockeries, coastal gardens, shallow bowls and courtyard pots, and pairs well with the dark leaved aeoniums. Colour without watering is the point of it, which counts on sites under water restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Blush Aeonium
What is Blush Aeonium?
Blush is a hybrid aeonium, an evergreen succulent forming large flat rosettes on short branching stems. Each leaf grades from a pale green centre through cream to pink and red at the margin, and the colouring strengthens in bright light and cool weather. Yellow flower heads appear in spring on mature rosettes.
How big does Blush Aeonium grow?
Expect roughly 40 to 60 centimetres tall and a similar spread, with rosettes 15 to 25 centimetres across. It adds 15 to 30 centimetres a year, so it stays a front of bed or container plant rather than a structural shrub. Stems branch slowly, building a low mound of overlapping rosettes over a few seasons.
Does it need sun or shade?
Bright light brings out the pink and red margins, so full sun is best in coastal and mild areas. Where summer afternoons run hot and dry, give it morning sun and afternoon shade, because pale variegated leaves scorch more readily than plain green ones. In heavy shade the colour washes out and stems stretch.
When does it flower?
Yellow flower heads open in spring, generally September through November. Only mature rosettes flower, and each one dies after setting seed, which is the normal pattern for aeoniums rather than a problem. The rest of the plant continues untouched. Trim the spent stem back to a side shoot to keep the shape tidy.
Is it frost tolerant?
No. Frost damages the fleshy leaves and repeated frosts will kill the plant. Grow it in frost free gardens, or in a pot you can move under an eave or verandah for winter. It is just as intolerant of waterlogged soil in cold weather, so drainage is part of the same problem.
Is it suitable for coastal gardens?
Yes. It handles salt air and sandy free draining soils, which is close to the conditions aeoniums evolved on, and coastal areas rarely frost. Plant it into raised beds or gravel mulch, water while it establishes, then largely leave it alone. Strong onshore wind can tatter the rosettes, so some shelter helps.
How do I care for Blush Aeonium?
Water once the soil has dried out, generously from autumn to spring and sparingly over summer while it rests. Do not feed heavily, since rich soil produces soft green growth and washes out the colour. Remove dead lower leaves and spent flower stems, and replant any cuttings straight into the ground to spread it.