Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:21 pm
Aeonium haworthii is a succulent plant with beautiful wide-ranging leaves that are perfect for container gardening. It’s relatively easy to grow and propagate, so it’s great for beginners. The flowers on this species of Aeonium can be white or purple in color depending on the time of year they bloom: during the winter, the flowers are white whereas in the summer they turn to a deep purple.
The Aeonium haworthii is considered a low-maintenance plant and doesn’t require much attention from gardeners. It can grow in full sun to partial shade, making it an excellent landscape plant for any locale. If you want to keep the Aeonium healthy and thriving, all you have to do is water them once or twice a week and fertilize them every month.
The Aeonium haworthii will grow to about 15 inches in height when mature but may need substantial support if it’s grown in an area with strong winds. The plants are fully frost-hardy and can be planted outdoors year-round for gardeners living on the southern coast of California.
There are more than 100 different varieties of the Aeonium haworthii, with foliage that ranges from solid green to variegated and even black leaf color combinations! Most species will grow best in hardiness zones 5 through 9 where they can be planted outdoors year-round or indoors when temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Aeonium haworthii is a perfect plant for the novice gardener or someone with limited space. It’s relatively easy to grow, so even if you don’t have much gardening experience, this succulent species will be an excellent choice that won’t disappoint!
Origin and description of Aeonium Haworthii
Aeonium haworthii, also known as the “Haworth’s Aeonium”, is a succulent plant native to coastal areas of North Africa and Western Asia. This variety prefers bright light but will tolerate low-light conditions if given enough water. The perfect place for an Aeonium in your home would be near a sunny southern window or outdoors in a sunny spot.
Aeonium Haworthii Propagation
Propagation is best done via tissue culture. Cut off a small, triangular piece of the plant and place it in the media that has been cooked to make it sterile. Use a nutrient solution until new roots form (usually within three weeks). When they do, pot up with sand or soil and keep moist at all times.
To propagate from a leaf, take the bottom of the plant and remove one-half inch. Place it in water or sand until roots form (usually within two weeks). When they do, pot up with the media. Keep moist at all times.
General care information
Aeonium haworthii is a very easy cactus to grow. It should be watered sparingly and needs no fertilizer or soil when grown in pots.
If grown in the ground, it does need watering during dry periods and a light application of fertilizer every so often. The plant is also frost-tender.
When propagating, be sure to use sterile media or sand. Also, make sure that your clone has at least one leaf attached for stability before moving into substrate or soil mix.
Light requirements
The light requirements for aeonium haworthii are different depending on what the plant is being propagated from. If it’s coming off of another clump, full sun will be required to get enough photosynthesis and growth in order to produce new roots. This means that if you have cut some off of a clump, the plant should be in direct sunlight for at least eight hours every day.
If you are propagating from seed, an area with indirect light is sufficient to get both roots and shoots developing if given access to water and can grow continuously as long as it’s not interrupted by too much rain or wind. If you want to just propagate the plant and not worry about growing it, a bright area with indirect light is sufficient.
If your clumps are in an area that gets less than eight hours of sunlight per day or if the plants are always in the shade, they may not grow as well.
Soil/potting mix
The soil that you should use when propagating your aeonium haworthii depends on the type of plant. If it’s coming off of another clump, then an all-purpose potting mix (one with peat moss and perlite) is recommended because this will provide better drainage than other types of soil. If you are propagating from seed, it’s better to use more sandier soil with less organic matter.
Aeoniums do not like very wet or dry soils and will have trouble growing if they are in an area that is too humid or gets no water at all. They also prefer the garden potting mix because of its drainage abilities.
If you are going to transplant an aeonium that is growing in the ground, it’s better if you use your existing soil and just cut off the top few inches of soil before planting because they will have difficulty adapting to new soils after being rooted for so long.
Fertilizer
Aeonium haworthii is an easy plant to care for. Like other succulents, periodic fertilization with a dilute fertilizer solution (no more than once every three months) will provide necessary nutrients and help ward off pests. Aeoniums are not heavy feeders, so this should be plenty of food for most applications.
Here’s an example of a fertilizer recipe:
- 70% water (distilled if you have it)
- 30% plant food and vitamin mixture.
Add enough diluted plant food to the bottle that when shaken, about one tablespoon will dissolve in each quart of water. You can use any brand or type of slow-release plant food (powder, pellets, etc.).
- Add a vitamin supplement: this is optional but many succulents like it. To make the recipe more nutrient-dense and prevent burning caused by too much nitrogen or potash, add one tablespoon of slow-release potassium as well.
Aeoniums should be fertilized once every three months to maintain a healthy and attractive plant.
Watering
Aeonium haworthii are not water-demanding plants. They prefer to be watered about once a month in the summer and every two months during winter.
The best way to tell when an Aeonium needs watering is by looking at its leaves: if they’re starting to curl up or look droopy, it’s time for some water.
We recommend using a watering can or hose to water your Aeonium, rather than leaving it in standing water. This will prevent any root rot that may develop from too much exposure to wet soil.
The best time of the day for watering an Aeonium haworthii is right before the sun goes down so as not to interrupt its natural daytime cycle.
Temperature
Aeoniums can handle a wide range of temperatures, from about 56-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
We recommend keeping plants in the low 70’s during winter and high 80’s during summer to keep them healthy.
If you’re going on vacation for any length of time (more than one week), it is best if someone else cares for your plant.
If you live in a climate that experiences freezing temperatures, bring your Aeonium haworthii inside before the weather gets too cold (approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below). Make sure to place it on a well-draining potting soil mix of half sand and half organic peat moss.
Humidity
Aeonium haworthii enjoy a fairly humid environment but don’t want to be in standing water.
We recommend keeping plants between 60-80% relative humidity during the winter and 80-90% during summer.
Repotting
While Aeoniums are not heavy feeders, they will eventually outgrow their pot.
When this happens it is time to repot the plant into a larger container. We recommend using a well-draining potting soil mix of half sand and half organic peat moss for plants with rootballs that seem too large for their current pot.
For Aeoniums without rootballs, you can simply place the plant in a bigger pot and fill it with a well-draining soil mix of half sand and half organic peat moss or sphagnum. This will ensure that your Aeonium has plenty of space to grow!
You should also take note if an Aeonium is beginning to lean too much in one direction. Place a half brick or other weight on top of the soil to help keep it upright and healthy.
We recommend repotting your Aeonium haworthii into its new pot at least once every six months to give it plenty of room to grow!
Pruning
During the summer months, Aeoniums can grow extremely fast and need to be pruned regularly.
Pruning is necessary for removing dead or dying leaves from your plant’s center which will cause rot in other living tissue if left unattended. Most of the time, this will also help alleviate any crowding on the outside of the plant.
We recommend pruning your Aeonium haworthii in the spring after it has finished growing for the season. This will help promote a healthy plant with plenty of new growth to start off next year!
Growth rate
Aeoniums grow fast and are generally low-maintenance plants.
They will be dormant during the winter months, but oftentimes, it is a good idea to keep them indoors or in an area with artificial light so they don’t become too stressed out from the lack of sunlight. During this time, you should trim off any dead leaves on the plant.
In the summer, Aeoniums will grow up to 18 inches a month! Make sure you have plenty of room for your plants before they get too big and start crowding other plants or furniture in your home.
It is advisable to trim off any flowers that may bloom during this time as well so it can devote more energy to maintaining and producing new plant growth.
Hardiness zone
Aeoniums are hardy plants that can grow in a variety of climates.
They will thrive anywhere from zones 6 to 10!
We recommend checking the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map when choosing where you live or planting your Aeonium. This way, you’ll know what type of care it needs for optimal growth and health.
Toxicity
Aeoniums are non-toxic plants, so they can be used around children and pets.
However, if you have sensitive skin or allergies, it is best to keep Aeonium haworthii out of the home because some people may experience irritation when handling them.
If this happens to you, try wearing gloves or washing your hands after handling the plant.
Pests and diseases
Aeonium haworthii are not prone to any pests or diseases.
However, if your Aeonium is becoming wilted and leggy it may have root rot which could be caused by over-watering the plant. Make sure you give it plenty of water during the summer months but make sure that soil does not become soggy and waterlogged.
If your Aeonium is becoming discolored it may have been infected by powdery mildew which could be caused by high humidity or long periods of too much direct sunlight. Make sure you keep the plant in a more well-ventilated area to help avoid this problem!
