I can't remember how long I've had this Aeonium - it must be a decade at least - and throughout that time it has produced nothing but these geometrically attractive spiral whorls of succulent leaves on a woody stem that.....
... bears a spiral pattern of leaf scars left by the old leaves that die and fall off.
This year it has finally switched into flowering mode and produced a spectacular inflorescence. The whole plant is about a metre tall.
This will be its final hurrah - like some bamboos and the century plant Agave americana, Aeonium arboreum is monocarpic , gradually accumulating the stored energy required to produce its flowers and seeds and then dying.
Botanical trivia: Aeonium is the only genus I can think of that contains all five vowels in a single name - useful to contemplate, maybe, if you are compiling quiz questions for your gardening club?
Fantastic plant. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeletestill waiting for mine to flower....
ReplyDeletehow about: Aiouea ??
http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Lauraceae/Aiouea/
thanks for a great blog
boa sorte
Brian
The patterns in the first two photos are hypnotic. You will have to get a new plant and start over.
ReplyDeleteHi Rick, I think I'll have to get another one - there's a very attractive deep pruple variety..
ReplyDeleteAiouea is unbeatable - thanks Brian!
ReplyDeleteI will Carolyn, I really like the geometry of the plant.
ReplyDeleteAnd Pseudofumaria.
ReplyDeleteHow about one with the part-time vowel "y" as well?
Eydouxia is not accepted, unfortunately, though it is retained as a specific name. Polycephalium is accepted.
Just remembered - Fouquieria. Fouquieriaceae almost has them all twice.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, Thanks - I think Fouquieriaceae scores quadruple points!
ReplyDeleteYesterday and today have been unbelievably hot and humid. Most unusual for the shore of Lake Michigan. Since it is way to hot to work in the Gardens at Waters East, it is a good time to catch up on your Blog and other Blogs I am following. It was interesting to me to see the flowering Aeonium. I have one in a pot that I bring inside each Fall ( a very dark leaf variety). I did not know it would bloom. I probably won't have that luck but at least I got to see what it would be like. Jack
ReplyDeleteAeoniums have intresting habitus! I've seen live them in the Canary Islands, where I was on a course "Macaronesian geobotany"
ReplyDeleteHave a nice summer.
K
It's taken a lot of years for mine to produce flowers Jack - now I'll need to buy another...
ReplyDeleteHello K, I've never been lucky enough to see it growing in the wild.... but maybe one day.....
ReplyDelete