Aeonium lindleyi aka Tree Of Love

Aeonium lindleyi belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It is a succulent and stays green all year. This small shrub has many woody branches. Kew gives its native range as La Gomera and northeastern Tenerife. Both lie in the Canary Islands. It grows there in a subtropical climate. The RHS calls it Canary Island tree houseleek. Few people grow it.

Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall and wide. LLIFLE gives a smaller height: about 0.7–1.6 feet [0.2–0.5 metres]. The RHS says plants reach full size in two to five years. Dense leaf groups called rosettes sit on the branched stems. Each leaf is spoon-shaped, with soft hairs and a sticky surface. Leaves range from yellow-green to dark green. Sun helps keep the stronger leaf colour. Shade makes the leaves greener. These leaf groups give the plant its bold shape.

Full-grown rosettes bear small yellow blooms in summer. Each flower looks like a star, with narrow, pointed petals. LLIFLE describes eight or nine flower parts, plus hairy sepals. The blooms form branched groups above the leaves. Grow it indoors, in a greenhouse or in a conservatory. It also suits patio pots and gardens with a Mediterranean climate. Its branched shape gives form to groups of plants in pots.

Give it sun, though it can take some shade. Choose a sheltered spot where the soil drains well. The RHS lists sandy soil and loam as good choices. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline soils. In pots, use peat-free compost based on loam, with extra grit. Give modest amounts of water while it grows. Stop watering while it rests. It can cope with drought. Its water needs still change with growth. During growth, feed two or three times with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Its RHS hardiness rating is H1C. For winter, move it to a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory.

It needs no routine pruning. The RHS reports few disease problems. Watch for aphids and mealybugs, which may attack it. Grow new plants from seed in spring at 19–24°C. You can also take cuttings from the rosettes. Keep these at 18°C with very little moisture until roots form. The supplied sources give no evidence for food use. They also give no evidence on toxicity.