Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata
low lightpet cautionToxic to pets
SPECIMEN NO. 990
Native toCultivated cultivar of Aeonium arboreum; the species is native to the Canary Islands and southwestern Morocco
Pet safe
Black Rose Aeonium
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
Also known as: Aeonium Zwartkop, Black Tree Aeonium
A striking succulent with large rosettes of glossy, deep purple-to-almost-black leaves atop branching stems. A bold architectural accent that needs strong light to keep its dark color.
10–21dwatering range
bright direct to indirectlight needs
10–27°Ctemperature
Watering amount
How much water does my Black Rose Aeonium need?
Estimated guideline, not a precise measurement — scale up for larger pots, brighter light, or active growth; scale down for smaller pots, lower light, or winter dormancy. Always water until it drains from the pot's base rather than measuring exactly. Use soil moisture and plant condition as the primary guide; the ml value is only a rough estimate.
Watering guide
Season note
Water only when the soil has fully dried out; roughly weekly in summer heat, every 12+ days as it cools, minimal in dormancy.
Overwatering signs
Squishy, translucent, rotting leaves
Underwatering signs
Shriveled, wrinkled leaves
Light & placement
Light level
bright direct to indirect
Best rooms
Care details
Soil
Fast-draining cactus/succulent mix
Humidity
Low; standard household humidity is fine
Fertilizer
Half-strength water-soluble fertilizer during growing season only
Temperature range
10°C – 27°C
Plant care guide
Black rose aeonium, botanically Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop', is a cultivar of a species native to the Canary Islands and, to a lesser extent, coastal Morocco, where the broader genus Aeonium — comprising roughly 35 species of rosette-forming succulents — is concentrated primarily across the Canary Islands, Madeira, Cape Verde, and parts of northern Africa. It belongs to the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae, and the cultivar name "Zwartkop," registered in Dutch horticultural catalogs, translates from Dutch as "black head," a direct and fitting description of the plant's most striking feature; the same cultivar is also sometimes labeled "Schwarzkopf" in German-speaking regions, carrying an identical meaning. The wild species Aeonium arboreum itself is genuinely notable for its long cultivation history, having a long history of cultivation in European and Mediterranean gardens. It's also worth noting a point of ongoing horticultural debate: most specimens sold in nurseries under the label 'Aeonium arboreum' are, strictly speaking, hybrids rather than genuine representatives of the comparatively rare wild Moroccan population of the true species, meaning the plant most growers encounter and cultivate today is more accurately described as a long-cultivated horticultural form rather than an unaltered wild-type succulent.
The plant's defining visual feature is its dramatic, deep burgundy-to-nearly-black foliage, arranged in symmetrical, waxy, spoon-shaped rosettes that closely resemble dark, exotic flowers — a resemblance strong enough to have earned the cultivar both of its most common names, black rose and black tree aeonium. This dark coloration is genuinely light-dependent rather than a fixed, unchanging trait: the plant's leaves develop their richest, deepest near-black color specifically when given abundant, direct sunlight, while insufficient light causes the rosettes to revert toward a considerably greener, less dramatic tone, particularly noticeable at the rosette's center — a practical detail worth understanding for anyone hoping to maintain the plant's signature dark, moody appearance rather than a duller, more ordinary green.
Toxicity
Pets: Non-toxic to pets
Humans: Non-toxic to humans
Pet-safety information should be treated as species/cultivar-specific; no documented toxic principle affecting humans either.
Frequently asked questions
Is Black Rose Aeonium safe for cats and dogs?+
Yes, it's generally regarded as pet-safe, and no toxic principle is documented for humans either, according to most sources.
Why is my Black Rose Aeonium turning green instead of black?+
Insufficient light causes the dark pigmentation to fade to green — move it to a spot with several hours of direct or very bright light to restore the color.
How often should I water an Aeonium?+
Only when the soil has completely dried out — this could be weekly in summer heat and much less often as temperatures cool.
