Aeonium simsii aka (Sweet) Aeonia

Aeonium simsii belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It is a succulent, a plant with thick, fleshy leaves. This perennial lives for more than two years. It is evergreen, keeping its leaves all year. It comes from central and south-central Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. Its home has a subtropical climate. Gardeners may also find it named Aeonium caespitosum. It grows in low cushions.

Short branches bear small rosettes, or leaf rings, packed close together. The RHS gives a height of about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres]. Its wider size range reaches 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] tall and wide. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. The fleshy green leaves are narrow and shaped like straps. Each has a pointed tip and see-through hairs along its edges. Bright light can turn the leaves red in places. In some shade, the leaves stay greener.

Small yellow flowers bloom above the leaf rings in spring. Red stems bear groups of blooms with flat tops. The low cushions suit pots on patios and in courtyards. The RHS also lists this plant for Mediterranean-style gardens. In Britain, give it shelter rather than planting outdoors all year. Its RHS hardiness rating is H1C. It can grow outside in summer when warm enough. For winter, move it to a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory.

Give it a sunny, sheltered spot for strong leaf colour. It can cope with some shade too. Use peat-free potting compost with a loam base. Add grit to help water drain. The RHS lists both loam and sand as suitable soils. The plant accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. Give moderate amounts of water while it grows. Do not water it during dormancy, its rest phase. It resists drought, but its water needs change with growth. During growth, feed two or three times with a balanced liquid fertiliser.

It needs no routine pruning. The RHS reports few disease problems. Aphids and mealybugs may still attack it. Grow new plants from seed. Or take rosette-tip cuttings in early summer. Let the cut ends form a callus before planting. Place them in sandy compost under moderate light at 18°C. Keep the compost just moist until roots form. The supplied sources give no facts on edible uses for this species. Nor do they say whether it is toxic.