Having spent years editing plant encyclopedias like this, I’ve gotten reasonably experienced at writing descriptions such as “This variety has these features.” Yet even with all that practice, I still find it especially tricky to pin down the distinct characteristics of Aeoniums.
Even if you try to write, “This Aeonium is this color. Its leaves look like this,” you’ll find its entire appearance has changed in less than a week! Sometimes, instead of developing a more unique look, it ends up resembling another variety—and you’re left wondering what even makes these two different anymore.
So, what should I be looking for—and how should I be writing about it?!
That’s exactly why I put together this column: to record, exactly as they are, the ever-changing looks of different Aeonium varieties as a kind of time-lapse diary. No wordy descriptions. Just photos, pure and simple! That’s the spirit of this throw-our-hands-up page.
If I go with my gut, I’d say that since around 2023, the most popular and sought-after Aeonium variety has been "メデューサ A. 'Medusa' ". With its blend of metallic scarlet variegation, it’s followed the legacy of varieties like ‘Sunset Violet’ and ‘Black Aeonium Variegated’—claiming the throne thanks to its unbeatable value.
Looking at its features: it tends to color red quickly under a little stress but keeps its brightness, the leaves are broad and paddle-shaped, and even after unfolding, the rosette’s center sinks into a gentle “bowl” shape. Safe to say it’s basically a bright red Aeonium at heart.
"マルディグラ A. 'Mardi Gras' " has actually been available domestically longer than Medusa, and thanks to Green Room’s local production license, it’s easy to find—even at home centers. At first, I thought “The leaves are thinner than Medusa,” but by June, they looked so similar, I can no longer tell them apart…
If you want a variety where the coloring is easier to recognize, try "ハロウィン錦 A. 'Halloween Variegated' ". Even when Medusa or Maggie turn bright red under stress, this one hardly colors at all, keeping a light green shade. If the stress is really strong, you might see some color, but it’s just a faint red, almost like a spray on the surface, not from the leaf’s inner tissues.
Saying “Aeonium traits are hard to pin down” is especially true of brand-new varieties. New ones are popping up all the time, and I often get to browse dazzling catalogs, but it can be nearly impossible to describe exactly how a new variety is truly different from the old ones—at least, not in a way that holds up as those traits shift wildly with season and environment (as you can see above).
This "マギー A. 'Maggie' " was a fresh arrival back in November. After about three months of care, I feel like it’s *starting* to show its true character, but I still don’t have a firm sense of what makes its look distinctive yet.
By the way, we’re sharing this one at PUKUBOOK SUCCULENTS, but even in the listing, I wrote honestly: “Still can’t clearly define its character,” and “It’s something you learn over a long period.”
So basically, when picking new Aeoniums, I tend to choose those with obviously different leaf shapes or variegation patterns that I’ve never seen before. But as you might guess, those are limited—and there’s only one way to expand your Aeonium world: just dive in and try!
In February, I got this "ダンシングビューティ A. 'WuTianji' ". For now, I can’t distinguish it from Mardi Gras or Maggie at all… Maybe I’ll wait until some features become clearer before offering it for sale. Who knows what surprises are in store.
Aeoniums really are challenging to identify by features alone. But even in that short time, I’ve learned there are certain aspects worth paying attention to—here are some notes for myself (and you!).
For nearly all Aeoniums, there’s more variation within a single variety through the seasons and environment than there is between varieties, so you can rarely say “this variety is always this color.” However, you *can* say “it easily goes towards this shade”. Pay attention to how differently a group of varieties color under the same conditions, and how stress influences color shifts. It’s all about “relative differences.”
Just like with color, leaf shape and the way leaves expand and point often vary more by season or environment than between varieties. Still, there are “tendencies.” For example, leaves that close up goblet-style like a Greenovia when producing new foliage, or, like Mei-kyou (Ming Mirror), those that spread so flat they’re almost mirror-like—these probably link back to their wild ancestors. Also, features like velvety (velour-like) textures or especially narrow leaves emerge as recognizable traits for some lines.
Frilly or curled leaves are of course easy traits to spot—but young plants sometimes lack frills, so stay alert!
When you read professional guides to Aeonium, most focus on “color”—so developing a sharp eye for color differences seems critical...
And that’s a wrap—a one-year-later winter feature on stunning Aeoniums!
While researching for this column, I discovered a site with incredibly detailed info on new Aeonium varieties. I’ll add even more information as I learn it! My goal: to create Japan’s—no, the *world’s* (lol)—most comprehensive Aeonium encyclopedia! (Pretty sure I wrote the same thing in an earlier column!)
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