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Green Tree Aeonium Aeonium arboreum — "Tree Houseleek"
The Green Tree Aeonium (Aeonium arboreum) grows like no other succulent in the garden: glossy, apple-green rosettes perched on bare branching stems, so a mature clump reads as a miniature grove of palm-like trees. In mild coastal climates it fills beds and pots with almost no help, and every stem is a ready-made cutting. The one thing to know is its calendar — Aeoniums grow through the cool months and nap through summer, the reverse of most succulents.
| Common names | Green Tree Aeonium, Tree Houseleek, Irish Rose |
| Botanical name | Aeonium arboreum |
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Origin | Morocco & the Canary Islands region |
| Mature size | 3–4 ft tall, branching & shrubby |
| Light | Full sun on the coast; bright light / afternoon shade inland |
| Water | Moderate in fall–spring growth; minimal in summer dormancy |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9–11 (protect from hard frost) |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings — very easy in fall through spring |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats & dogs |
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Fresh-cut Aeonium arboreum rosette cuttings from our Los Angeles garden — ready to root right into the garden.
Get Aeonium Cuttings →How to identify Aeonium arboreum
Unlike Echeveria or Sempervivum, which hug the ground, every Aeonium rosette sits on a visible stem, and the leaves are thin, glossy and flexible rather than fat and firm. Look closely for the tiny eyelash hairs along each leaf edge. In full sun the margins can flush red. Old rosettes may crown themselves with a big yellow flower cone in spring; that rosette dies after blooming, but the branched plant lives on.
Green Tree Aeonium care
The winter-grower rhythm. Growth happens in the cool, moist months (roughly October–May in Southern California); summer brings semi-dormancy — closed rosettes, dropped lower leaves, a tired look. Normal. Ease off water and it wakes with the first cool nights.
Light. Full sun near the coast; bright morning sun with afternoon shade inland.
Water. More than a typical succulent while growing — water when the top inch or two dries, fall through spring. In summer, once or twice a month at most.
Soil. Fast-draining with a bit more organic matter than cactus mix; shallow roots prefer wide pots.
Temperature. Mild is best: 40–80°F. Light frost is fine; hard freezes kill stems.
How to propagate Aeonium from cuttings
Among the easiest succulents to multiply — timing matters more than technique. Propagate fall through spring, not in summer dormancy.
1. Cut a rosette with 2–4 inches of stem.
2. Callus 3–5 days.
3. Plant the stem in slightly moist, fast-draining soil.
4. Bright shade and light water. Roots in 2–4 weeks in cool weather.
New to cuttings? Follow our step-by-step 21-Day Rooting Guide, and match your delivery with the Succulent ID Chart.
Skip the wait — start with rooted-ready cuttings
We ship fresh Green Tree Aeonium rosettes on sturdy stems, ready to plant on arrival.
Get Aeonium Cuttings →Common problems
Why is my Aeonium dropping leaves in summer? Almost certainly summer dormancy, not a problem. Cut water back to a light drink once or twice a month and it will flush back out when nights cool.
When is the best time to take Aeonium cuttings? Fall through spring while the plant is actively growing. In coastal California, October to April cuttings root almost without fail.
Why did my Aeonium die after flowering? Aeonium rosettes are monocarpic. Cut out the spent rosette and the other branches carry on; only a young single-stem plant that flowers is truly lost.
Can I grow it indoors? Yes — brightest window you have, expect a smaller plant. Excellent as a porch or balcony pot moved under cover when frost threatens.
Is Aeonium safe for pets? Good news — Aeoniums are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Related pages
All Aeonium → · Aeonium 'Zwartkop' · Gollum Jade · Succulent ID Chart