Aeonium 'Big Bang'

Rare and unusual

Aeonium 'Big Bang'

Name: Aeonium 'Big Bang'
Brand: Surreal Succulents
SKU: A606-bigbang+J621
Rating: 4.75 (4 reviews)

£17.50

At a glance

Light: Full sun5+ hours of sun
Lowest temperature: 2°C Keep it frost free
Mature size: 70 cm x 50 cm Height x width
Growability: BeginnerWhat this means

Where it grows best and how to care for it

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What arrives

Sent by Royal Mail, with tracking
Unless stated otherwise, grown in a 6cm pot and around 5-7cm wide. Size guide
Sent bare-root, so it travels safely. Why we ship without pots and soil
Packed without plastic, apart from the plant label
Grown at our nursery in Cornwall and picked by hand for your order

The plant you receive may not look exactly like the photos.

The striking Aeonium 'Big Bang' has unique black-green irregularly striped foliage and a compact form. Perfect for adding interest to any garden or indoor space, this plant is easy to care for and requires minimal watering. With its vibrant colours and low-maintenance nature, it's the perfect addition to any plant collection. Takes very similar care and liking to Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’.

Due to the irregularity of cuttings, the plant you receive will have a different pattern to the one displayed.

We send everything by Royal Mail, and you'll get tracking updates once your order is on its way.

Standard: we send your order within 3 working days by Tracked 48, so it takes 3 to 5 days to arrive.

Super Express: order before 2pm on a working day and it goes out the same day by Tracked 24, arriving in 1 to 2 working days.

Our packaging is 100% plastic-free. The plant label is the only plastic in the box.

Your plants travel bare-root, nested carefully in the packaging.

Light

Full sun

5+ hours of sun

Full shade
Partial shade
Full sun

Lowest temperature

2°C

Keep it above 2°C, so it needs protecting from frost.

2°C

Good places to grow it

Balcony
Patio
Conservatory

Growability: Beginner
Growth form: Branching
Growth rate: Moderate
Mature size (H x W): 70 cm x 50 cm
Foliage colour: Black, Green
Flowers: Yellow, April to June

Customer reviews

On arrival

Unpacking and planting

Aeonium 'Big Bang' is delivered bare-root, so it will need time to establish after planting. Carefully unpack the plant, remove any remaining packaging and check it has arrived in good health.

Plant Aeonium 'Big Bang' in fresh, free-draining compost, spreading the roots naturally rather than folding them tightly. For the best start, bury a suitable section of healthy bare stem to anchor a top-heavy plant securely and encourage stronger rooting. Aeoniums tolerate having part of the bare stem buried, but keep every leaf and rosette above the compost surface. Tap the pot lightly on the potting bench several times to settle the compost, but do not compress it heavily.

Wait five to seven days before watering. This allows any small root injuries from lifting and transport to dry, reducing the risk of rot. After this settling period, water lightly until the plant has established, then move to the full 3 D's method.

Keep Aeonium 'Big Bang' in a bright, sheltered position while it establishes. Avoid intense midday sunshine for the first week, then gradually introduce it to its recommended light conditions. Some lower-leaf loss or temporary softness is normal while new roots develop.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Watering

Give Aeonium 'Big Bang' a thorough soak, letting excess water drain freely from the pot, then wait until the compost has dried before watering again. Remember our 3 D's method: drench, drain and dry.

Aeoniums do their main growing in the milder parts of the year, chiefly spring and autumn. Growth slows right down through the coldest UK winter weather and pauses again in high summer heat, so Aeonium 'Big Bang' takes up most water during spring and autumn, when a large, leafy specimen drinks plenty. Check the compost regularly and water by its condition rather than to a set schedule.

Keep the plant much drier during hot summer dormancy and cold winter weather. It is always best to water in the mornings so any excess can drain and evaporate before nightfall.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Light and position

Provide Aeonium 'Big Bang' with Full Sun - 5+ Hours of Sun. Suitable positions may include Balcony, Patio, and Conservatory. Good, strong natural light keeps the branching even and the rosettes full and compact, and helps the stems thicken into a sturdy, self-supporting framework.

Avoid dark rooms or positions far from a window, which cause weak, drawn stems that struggle to hold the heavy heads. Introduce stronger sunshine gradually after winter or delivery, and give temporary shade during intense heatwaves if the leaves begin to scorch.

Compost and drainage

Plant Aeonium 'Big Bang' in a free-draining mixture of roughly 60% multi-purpose compost and 40% horticultural grit or perlite, our recommended blend for Aeoniums. Always use a pot with drainage holes.

Large branching Aeoniums become genuinely top-heavy as they mature, so choose a stable, well-weighted pot that gives the roots room to develop, but avoid going too large, as excess compost stays wet for longer and takes much longer to dry out.

A terracotta pot is preferred: the extra weight adds stability against the tall, spreading crown, while the porous walls aerate the compost and aid root development.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost horticultural grit perlite

Feeding

Fresh compost should feed Aeonium 'Big Bang' for its first three to six months of growth. After that, apply a balanced liquid feed at half strength roughly once every two weeks while the plant is actively growing through its spring and autumn growing season.

Feed only when the compost is already moist, preferably just after watering. Do not feed Aeonium 'Big Bang' during summer dormancy or prolonged cold weather, as soft, forced growth is far more susceptible to rot and frost damage.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost liquid seaweed feed

Winter care

The recorded minimum temperature for Aeonium 'Big Bang' is 2°C. Being frost-tender, move it into a bright, airy and protected position before conditions fall below this level; it is not hardy like a Sempervivum. A large specimen can be awkward to shift, so plan its winter quarters in a greenhouse, conservatory or bright, cool room before the cold arrives.

Keep the compost considerably drier during cold weather, watering only around every six weeks on average, and use horticultural fleece for additional protection during short cold spells while still allowing air to circulate around the crown.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost horticultural fleece

Summer care

During prolonged hot weather Aeonium 'Big Bang' may enter summer dormancy. Growth slows, the colours can deepen and the rosettes close towards their centres while lower leaves shrivel and drop. This is a natural response to heat and nothing to worry about, though on a large plant the leaf drop can look dramatic.

Move Aeonium 'Big Bang' out of intense afternoon sunshine if the leaves scorch. Reduce watering considerably and stop feeding while the rosettes stay closed. A half-strength liquid seaweed feed misted over the foliage in the cool of early morning, every couple of weeks, acts as a tonic that helps Aeonium 'Big Bang' cope with heat stress without wetting the roots. Normal care can resume when temperatures cool and the rosettes begin to reopen.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: liquid seaweed feed

Repotting

Repot Aeonium 'Big Bang' during spring or early autumn, either annually or when it becomes root-bound, unstable or too large for its container. Replace tired compost with a fresh, free-draining mixture and choose a pot only moderately larger than the existing one.

Older branching Aeoniums develop long sections of bare woody stem. These can be planted 4-6 inches (10-15cm) deeper to encourage additional roots and improve stability, but never bury leaves or rosettes. Handle the branches carefully and support the main framework, as mature stems can split at the junctions if placed under pressure.

We supply the recommended care essentials for mail order. Find the relevant products here: succulent compost

Common problems

Stretched stems, widely spaced leaves and loose rosettes usually mean Aeonium 'Big Bang' needs more light. Move it gradually somewhere brighter and rotate the pot to keep the branching balanced and self-supporting.

Soft stems, dark tissue or sudden collapse are usually linked to excess moisture, particularly in cold weather or summer dormancy. Remove damaged growth and let healthy material dry before watering again.

Older lower leaves naturally dry and fall as the plant matures, gradually revealing the distinctive branching stems beneath the rosettes. Each rosette is monocarpic, dying after it flowers, but a large branching plant carries on unharmed through its many other heads.