Aeonium sedifolium aka La Palma Aeonium

Aeonium sedifolium, or dwarf aeonium, is a small evergreen succulent subshrub. It belongs to the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae. Kew records its native range on three Canary Islands: Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera. It grows in a subtropical climate. Wild plants grow on very dry cliffs, where their branches form tight clumps. Its older name, Aichryson sedifolium, refers to the same species.

Garden plants reach about 0.3–1.6 feet (0.1–0.5 metres) tall and wide. LLIFLE describes shrubs reaching 1.3 feet (0.4 metres). Plants take five to ten years to reach full size. Many slender stems branch close together, giving the plant a bushy shape. The stems feel sticky and bear sparse, fine hairs. Small rosettes sit at their tips. The thick leaves have a rounded, club-like shape. Their green to yellow-green surface looks glossy and feels sticky. Red edges and reddish stripes add colour to the leaves. Fine hairs cover them but need magnification to see. During dry spells, the inner leaves fold into a rounded bud.

Small yellow flowers appear in spring on mature rosettes. Their loose clusters can carry six to fifteen blooms. Each flower has nine to eleven petals. Many clusters can open at once, covering the plant with yellow. The leaves and compact shape also give this plant value outside flowering time. It suits pots on patios, as well as indoor displays. A greenhouse or conservatory provides another place to grow it.

Use a gritty potting mix that lets water drain freely. Loam and sand suit it, across acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. The RHS favours partial shade or bright, filtered light. LLIFLE also allows sun, which brings out stronger red leaf colour. Give it some shade in summer and shelter from harsh exposure. Water during active growth, then let the mix dry before watering again. Stop watering while the plant rests. Summer is its natural rest period; growth resumes in autumn. Feed two or three times during the growing season.

The RHS rates it H1C, so winter protection matters in Britain. Move it indoors or under glass for winter. LLIFLE reports brief survival near 28°F (−2°C), but advises frost protection. Pruning is not needed, though pinching stem tips encourages more branches. Stem cuttings provide new plants in spring and early summer. Keep cuttings barely damp at 64°F (18°C) until roots form. Aphids and mealybugs may attack it. The RHS reports few disease problems.