Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Cactus SucculentConservatory Greenhouse

Aeonium hierrense

El Hierro giant houseleek

A perennial succulent sub-shrub, up to 1.2m high, with a smooth or slightly-fissured, usually unbranched, stem topped with a rosette, 60cm across, of smooth dark green leaves, tinged red or purple and with fine hairs around the edge. A pink and white flowerhead, up to 50cm across, can be produced in spring

Join the RHS

Become an RHS Member today and save 25% on your first year

Join now
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
10–20 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Pink White Green Red
Summer Green Red
Autumn Green Red
Winter Green Red
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H1C
Botanical details
Family
Crassulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus

Aeonium are evergreen succulents often of shrubby habit, with fleshy leaves in terminal rosettes on the shoots, and racemes or panicles of small, star-shaped flowers with numerous narrow petals

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Hierro Las Palas

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun under glass in a cool greenhouse or conservatory; use a gritty, peat-free, loam-based medium and allow it to dry out slightly between waterings; for more advice see houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by stem-tip softwood cuttings or leaf cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Patio and container plants
  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Sub-tropical
  • Low Maintenance
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.