Aeonium 'Kiwi Verde'

Botanical Name — Aeonium ‘Kiwi Verde’

Common Name — Aeonium Kiwi, Aeonium haworthii ‘tricolor’

Plant Family — Crassulaceae

Background

These colorful succulents are a cultivated hybrid variety of Aeonium haworthii. Most Aeonium species are native to the cool, tropical Canary Islands, with some species having made their way to Morocco and East Africa. The leaves start out yellow and eventually darkening to a lime green color with the leaf margins turning a pink or red color. Unlike many other succulents, these plants will go dormant in the extreme heat of the summer and will experience active growth from winter to spring, when conditions are less harsh and mimic those of their native habitat. These are fairly low growing, reaching up to three feet in height. As the plant matures you may notice the lower leaves start to shed. No worries! The plant will lose its lower leaves and thicken the stem to support the apical growth of the plant. 
 
Growth Requirements
 
Sun

• Aeoniums prefer full sun, about 3-5 hours a day. Later afternoon sun is ideal, leaves will scorch in intense afternoon sun.
• This plant can be grown outdoors during the spring and fall. It also does fine outdoors during summer if it is not especially hot or humid.
• Indoors, place in southwest or west facing window during summer and winter or year round.

• Aeoniums love mild, moderate climates and don’t do well in seasonal extremes. Your ‘Kiwi Verde’ will grow best in cool temperatures between 65-75°F. It will enter dormancy in hot, dry weather.
• This plant prefers cool, moist temperatures but will not tolerate frost. Avoid temperatures below 30°F. 
• Where winters are cool, but not freezing, ‘Kiwi Verde’ Aeoniums can be grown outdoors in a bright, partly shaded area. Be mindful of placing this plant in intense direct sunlight. Leaves burn easily. 

• Aeoniums prefer their soil to be kept slightly more moist than most other succulents. Water when soil is dry about a quarter or third deep. 
• Watering can be reduced in the summer when plant is dormant.

• These plants prefer a fast-draining, well-aerated soil. Regular potting soil is ideal since these prefer more moisture. Soil can be amended with sand and pumice to improve drainage and aeration.
• Aeoniums have extremely shallow root systems, which is why these need to be watered more often.

• These plants are monocarpic, meaning they die once the plant reaches maturity and flowers. This can take anywhere between 3 and 10 years.
• Rosettes will flower once and then die. If a plant has several rosettes they may not all flower at the same time. If the plant has branches, side shoots will live on. 
• Flowers grow in clusters at the end of long stems sent out from rosettes. To avoid flowering, prune the flower heads as soon as they emerge.

• This plant generally does not require fertilizer, particularly when grown outdoors in a garden. 
• If you want to give your plant a boost, feed your Aeonium once a month during the growing season, fall to spring. Use a balanced fertilizer at half the recommended strength or use one specifically formulated for cacti and succulents.

• Propagate your ‘Kiwi Verde’ by stem cuttings. Take a 3-6 inch cutting. Allow the wound to callous or dry out, then place in soil. You can continue to grow the cut base in soil. Allow the top to callous then resume watering as usual. Side shoots will eventually sprout from the base of the plant. 
• As ‘Kiwi Verde’ plants gets larger and more top heavy the stem is weighed down and lands in the soil. Aeoniums will quickly root and produce side shoots. Offsets can be separated and repotted.

• This plant is not particularly prone to pests or diseases. Root rot can be a concern if it is overwatered. 
• It is always wise to keep an eye out for common pests such as mealybugs and spider mites. To help prevent any issues, prune away unhealthy leaves or stems.

• Because Aeoniums roots take quite a while to fill up their pot and prefer to be somewhat rootbound, these plants will only need to be transplanted once every 2 to 3 years. 
• These plants do not require much maintenance. They can be pruned to create fuller plants with more dense foliage. 

• Aeoniums are not known to be toxic to animals or humans.