Aeonium aureum (syn. Greenovia aurea) is one of the most interesting species of flowering plants in the Crassulaceae family. Commonly known in cultivation as the green rosebud, this succulent is native to the warm temperate areas of the Canary Islands. It has a spectacular clustering rosette of leaves that forms into the shape of a rose with time.
Green rose buds are among those ornamental succulent plants that you must grow at least once in a lifetime. These succulents are fairly low-demanding and will look absolutely fabulous in various landscape decorations both indoors and outdoors. They are excellent additions to succulent gardens, winter-interest gardens, cool-summer gardens, borders, beds, and also in cute pots.
Keep reading our guide to find out everything you need to know about these peculiar, but unique-looking succulents!
About Green Rose Buds
- Green rose buds grow mostly on rocky slopes, cliffs, and steep. These succulents appear at elevations of 1312 to 6562 feet (400-2000 m) above sea level.
- Green rose buds belong to the Aeonium genus of about 35 species of flowering succulents. They share this small genus with hypnotic species like A. arboreum, A. glandulosum, A. haworthii, A. leucoblepharum, A. sedifolium, and A. undulatum.
- Aeonium aureum looks very similar to its close relative Aeonium dodrantale. However, Aeonium aureum comes with a larger rosette and it cannot send offsets unless the specimen is a hybrid with Aeonium dodrantale.
- These succulents can grow nicely in a wide range of lighting conditions, cool to slightly warmer temperatures, and well-draining soils. Unlike other species of succulents, they require the most moisture during the winter and spring months.
- Green rose buds can make for wonderful companions to other winter-blooming succulents. The most common companions include Agave parryi, Delosperma, Opuntia Pinta Rita, Orostachys iwarenge, Sedum ‘Angelina’, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, Sedum Spurium, Sempervivum arachnoideum, and Sempervivum tectorum.
- Green rose buds are completely safe to grow if you have curious kids or furry friends around. These succulents have no toxic effects on either humans or animals.
Green Rose Buds Features: An Overview
- Aeonium aureum plants are evergreen and perennial succulents. They form medium-sized clumps that can reach from 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) in height and up to 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter.
- In general, Aeonium rose buds may go dormant during the summer months. The true seasons of interest for these succulents are winter and spring when they usually grow actively.
- Their succulent foliage consists of numerous thin, fleshy, petal-shaped, and apple-green leaves that produce a solitary rosette. The wide, open rosette flushes out during the winter months and will remain open throughout the spring.
- When the summer comes, the rosette closes up in tight, rounded buds that resemble roses before fully blooming. While the young leaves will remain healthy, the older ones tend to wilt while still attached to the dense rosette.
- Under extreme heat exposure, the leaves of Aeonium aureum, especially the bottom ones, will curl and change their colour into various shades of yellow, orange, or red.
- Mature Green rose buds generally bloom in spring. During this season, they exhibit a cluster of many bright yellow flowers that emerges on a stiff, thick, and erect stalk.
Growing Green Rose Buds
Green rose buds are unusual succulents, requiring different growing conditions than most other popular species of succulent plants. But overall, these plants are very easy to grow and care for as long as you understand their basic demands. The best thing about Aeonium rose buds is that you won’t have to pay more attention to them during their seasons of dormancy than you do other succulents of your collection. In fewer words, less effort on your part!
In terms of lighting conditions, Aeonium aureum succulents thrive in partial sunlight to partial shade. Too much direct light can damage their fragile leaves, especially during the summer months, causing their leaves to dry off with time. For optimal results, keep these plants in a location where they can receive lots of bright, indirect light and some occasional shade.
The seasons of interest for Aeonium green rosebuds are winter and spring. While the active growing period is in winter, the flowers will typically occur once the spring shows its warmth. In general, these succulents need temperatures between 65 and 75 °F (18-24 °C) to grow healthy and happy. However, they can tolerate winter temperatures that drop to 30 °F (-1.1 °C) without affecting their overall well-being. Make sure you protect them from extreme heat during the summer.
If you provide your Aeonium aureum plants with proper soil and good air circulation, you will have no serious issues with pests or fungal diseases. Although some intruders like aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, or scale insects may visit your succulents occasionally, you can easily get rid of them using neem oil.
On the other hand, ants are more likely to bother your plants, so you can prevent an infestation by placing an ant bait somewhere near them. In case of infestation, apply a mild insecticidal soap on your Aeonium aureum succulents once every week until the ants are gone.
Planting Green Rose Buds
When it comes to their growing medium, Aeonium green rosebuds do well in soils that come with very good drainage. Because these succulents love moisture, it is wise to plant them in a regular or sandy loam potting soil rather than a commercial mix designed for cacti and succulents. If you plan on keeping your plants indoors, plant them in containers with drainage holes at the bottom.
Aeonium aureum succulents are somewhat heavy feeders but only during their blooming and active growing seasons. If you want to give your plants the time of their life, feed them with a balanced fertilizer once every month or so. Keep in mind that you should first dilute the product at half strength and skip fertilizing while the succulents are dormant.
Even if your green rosebuds do not generally grow at a fast pace, you will need to repot them once every two or three years in a fresh substrate. In case your succulents have outgrown their pots, you can transplant them in new containers that are one size larger than the current ones. But if your plants have the same size, you can use the same pot as before when repotting them.
Aeonium Succulent Pack, From Amazon
Watering Green Rose Buds
During the winter and spring months, Aeonium succulents will need regular moisture to perform best. However, over-watering these plants is a pretty common mistake among gardeners, resulting in root rot with time. In general, they do not enjoy waterlogging or having their feet constantly wet.
If you want to avoid this from happening, the soak and dry method is surely the perfect way to do it. Make sure you test the soil in-between waterings by poking your finger in the substrate. When the top two inches (5 cm) of soil feels dry to the touch, you can safely spoil your succulents with a nice and deep drink.
Since green rose buds go dormant from summer through autumn, you will have to water them less often than usual during this period. We recommend you provide your succulents with a bit of water only when the soil has dried out completely to avoid unexpected surprises.
Propagating Green Rose Buds
Aeonium rose buds are, without a doubt, the most intriguing succulents out there. Their interesting resemblance with a rosebud make you want more of them around and we cannot judge you for that. Luckily, these succulents respond well to propagation through leaf cuttings, offsets, or seeds. And if you obtain many tiny green rose buds, you can put more of them together and gift your family members or friends a lovely bouquet of rose-like succulents!
To propagate your Aeonium green rosebuds using cuttings, you must first look for healthy leaves on the plant. Once you find the leaves, cut them off using a clean knife or pair of scissors. Place the cuttings on a paper towel for one day or so to allow each to form a callous. After this process, you can plant the leaf cuttings in fresh well-draining soil. Water whenever the soil has dried out and you will see some roots developing after two months or so.
If you are the happy owner of an Aeonium succulent that sends offsets, you can simply remove them from the mother plant. First things first, cut the offsets carefully with a sharp, sterilized knife. Next, remove the extra soil from the offsets, then allow it for a few days to callous. Once this period has passed, plant the offsets in fresh potting soil and provide with water when the soil dries out.
Since Aeonium aureum succulents grow quite slow, starting your own specimens from seeds is not usually the best method to propagate them. But for the fun of it, all you have to do is collect the seeds from the dry flowers, plant them in a well-draining mix, and water the soil regularly to maintain it damp. With proper care, the seeds will germinate in several years or so.
In Conclusion
If you want to add a special succulent to your collection, the superb Aeonium aureum will surely not disappoint you! Besides their attractive rose-shaped rosettes, these succulents have an easy-going nature to which you cannot possibly resist.
Are you growing Aeonium aureum? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
