Aeonium 'Kiwi'
Aeonium 'Kiwi is a compact, freely branching cultivar of the tree-houseleek Aeonium, usually attributed to Aeonium haworthii. It is prized for its small, tidy rosettes that shade from a pale yellow-green centre outward to bright green, finishing in flushed red margins — a colour combination that has earned it the trade name Dream Color. The intensity of that colouring shifts with the seasons and the strength of the light the plant receives.
Description
'Kiwi' is a small, shrubby succulent that branches readily from the base and along its stems to form a dense, many-headed clump rather than a single tall trunk. Each rosette is only a few centimetres across, built from soft, spoon-shaped leaves. New growth at the heart of the rosette is soft creamy-yellow; the leaves deepen to green as they mature and develop rosy to red edges where they catch bright light. In cooler, brighter months the red margins and yellow centres are at their most vivid, while shade and summer heat push the whole rosette toward plain green.
Like other aeoniums, 'Kiwi' is winter-growing and tends to rest in the heat of summer, when lower leaves may dry and drop. Mature plants can produce the tall, cone-shaped clusters of small starry flowers typical of the genus, though the cultivar is grown almost entirely for its foliage.
Cultivation
Care follows the parent species; see Aeonium haworthii and the Aeonium genus page for full details. In brief, 'Kiwi' does best in bright light with some protection from harsh midday summer sun, which brings out its colours without scorching the tender leaves. Grow it in a free-draining mix and follow the genus's winter-growing rhythm: water regularly through the cooler growing months when the soil approaches dryness, and keep it much drier during summer dormancy to prevent rot.
The variegated, low-chlorophyll centres make 'Kiwi' a little less vigorous and more light-hungry than a plain green aeonium — too much shade dulls the colour and stretches the rosettes (etiolation). It is not frost-hardy and should be kept above freezing. See Repotting for general technique and Pests and diseases for troubleshooting.
Propagation
'Kiwi' is easily increased by stem cuttings: a rosette taken with a short length of stem, allowed to callus for a few days, roots readily in a gritty mix during the growing season. Because it branches so freely, there are usually plenty of side rosettes to remove. Seed is not used to reproduce the cultivar, as seedlings will not come true to its distinctive colouring.
See also
- Aeonium — the genus overview
- Aeonium haworthii — the usual parent species
- Propagation — cuttings · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting