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Aeonium balsamiferum

balsam-yielding giant houseleek

A succulent subshrub, up to 1.2-1.5m high, with thick, pale grey-brown branches, each crowned by a saucer-shaped rosette, 20cm across, of spoon-shaped, sticky, balsam-scented, pale green leaves with pointed tips. Flower panicles, 15-25cm long, of many pale yellow flowers appear on mature plants in late spring

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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Brown Grey Silver Yellow Green
Summer Brown Grey Silver Green
Autumn Brown Grey Silver Green
Winter Brown Grey Silver Green
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
Bushy
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
Lanzarote, Cape Verde Is.

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a cool or temperate greenhouse or conservatory or as a houseplant in filtered light, in a standard cactus compost (or peat-free, John Innes No 2 with an added third of extra grit or fine gravel) and allow it to dry out almost completely between waterings; for more advice see houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown at 19-24°C in spring (it does not reproduce readily from seed) or take rosette stem-tip softwood cuttings in early summer; wait until calluses have formed, then insert in sandy compost and in moderate light at 18°C, and keep just moist until rooted

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May susceptible to aphids and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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