Name: Aeonium 'Black Magic'
Brand: Surreal Succulents
SKU: A607-black-magic
Price: 8.50 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

Aeonium 'Black Magic'

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Most of our plants are shipped bare-root. Please note that the plant you receive may not be an exact likeness of the images shown.

Aeonium ‘Black Magic’ is a mesmerising succulent renowned for its dramatic beauty. This cultivar boasts rosettes of dark, almost black leaves that create a striking contrast against its surroundings. The foliage develops its deepest hue when exposed to sunlight, making it a standout feature in any garden or container. In addition to its captivating colouration, ‘Black Magic’ produces offsets early in its growth cycle, creating a crown of compact beauty. Unusual for Aeoniums, ‘Black Magic’ likes to flower from its offsets, so it will keep its original form for longer. We believe it to be a hybrid of Aeonium simsii x Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’ due to the hairy leaves and atypical flowering pattern.

With its unique combination of colour and form, Aeonium ‘Black Magic’ is sure to captivate and enchant succulent enthusiasts and gardeners alike.

This plant has a variegated version, Aeonium 'Peacock'.

Also known as:

Where it thrives

Sunlight Full Sun 5+ hrs of sun

Recommended location Balcony

Recommended location Patio

Recommended location Conservatory

Recommended location Rockery

Plant characteristics

Growability Beginner

Growth form Shrub-like

Growth rate Moderate

Minimum temperature -4°C

Mature size, height and width 40 cm x 50 cm

Foliage colour Purple, Red, and Green

On Arrival

Aeonium 'Black Magic' is delivered bare-root and needs time to establish in its new pot. Unpack it carefully, remove the packaging and check the leaves, stems and roots have arrived in good health.

Plant Aeonium 'Black Magic' in the free-draining compost recommended in this guide and spread the roots into a natural position rather than forcing them in. For the best start, bury a short section of healthy bare stem to anchor the plant and encourage stronger rooting. Aeoniums tolerate having part of the bare stem buried, but keep every leaf, branch junction and rosette above the compost surface. Tap the pot lightly on the bench a few times to settle the mixture, without firming it down hard by hand.

Wait five to seven days before watering. This lets any small root injuries from lifting and transport dry, reducing the risk of rot. After that, water lightly while the roots establish, then move to the normal watering routine once the plant is firmly rooted and growing.

Keep Aeonium 'Black Magic' in a bright, sheltered spot while it establishes. Shade it from strong midday sun for the first week, then introduce it gradually to its recommended light. A little softness or the loss of a few older leaves is normal while new roots form.

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

Watering

Water Aeonium 'Black Magic' thoroughly, moistening the whole root area and letting all excess drain freely through the holes. Wait until the compost has dried before watering again. Follow our 3 D's method: drench, drain and dry.

Aeoniums do their main growing in spring and autumn, slowing right down through the coldest UK winter weather and pausing in high summer heat. This is when Aeonium 'Black Magic' drinks most, so check the compost regularly through the growing season and water by how dry it feels rather than to a set timetable.

Keep Aeonium 'Black Magic' much drier during hot summer weather, when it turns semi-dormant, and through cold winter spells. Its many closely packed rosettes hold water easily, so water in the morning and avoid wetting the crowns where it can sit and rot.

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

Light and position

Provide Aeonium 'Black Magic' with Full Sun - 5+ Hours of Sun. Suitable positions can include Balcony, Patio, Conservatory, and Rockery. Strong, even light is what keeps a compact branching Aeonium genuinely compact, holding the many small rosettes tight and bringing out the fullest foliage colour.

In dim positions the stems stretch, the rosettes loosen and the bushy shape is quickly lost. Rotate pot-grown plants regularly so every side of the bush is well lit.

Introduce Aeonium 'Black Magic' to stronger sunshine gradually after winter, delivery or a period under cover, as unadjusted foliage scorches easily. Give temporary shade during fierce heatwaves if the leaves begin to mark.

Compost and drainage

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

Choose a container only moderately larger than the root system. A densely branched plant has a modest root ball for its size, and surplus compost simply stays wet and invites rot.

Terracotta suits it well, as the porous walls help the compost dry evenly and let air reach the roots. A layer of horticultural grit around the base keeps the lowest rosettes and leaves clear of damp compost.

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 'Black Magic' for roughly three to six months. After that, apply a balanced liquid feed at half the recommended strength every two weeks, but only while the plant is in active growth through its spring and autumn growing season.

Feed when the compost is already moist, ideally just after watering, so the nutrients spread around the roots without scorching them.

Stop feeding through high-summer dormancy and prolonged cold weather. Overfeeding a compact type forces soft, leggy growth that spoils the dense habit and is far more prone to rot and frost.

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 'Black Magic' is -4°C. Being frost-tender, move it into a bright, airy and protected position before conditions fall below this level. A greenhouse, conservatory or bright, cool room provides suitable protection; it is not hardy like a Sempervivum.

Keep the compost much drier through winter, watering only around every six weeks on average, as cold, wet roots are especially prone to rot. Good airflow matters here, since the tightly packed rosettes trap damp air readily. Do not stand the plant over a radiator, where dry heat and weak light produce distorted growth.

Use good horticultural fleece for extra cover during short cold snaps, and let air move around the foliage whenever conditions permit.

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

Summer care

In prolonged hot weather Aeonium 'Black Magic' enters its natural summer semi-dormancy. The many rosettes tighten and close, growth stalls and some lower leaves shrivel and drop. This is normal heat-avoidance behaviour, not a sign of dying.

Move it out of fierce afternoon sun if the leaves scorch. Reduce watering sharply while the rosettes stay closed and stop feeding altogether. 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 'Black Magic' cope with heat stress without wetting the roots.

As cooler autumn weather returns and the rosettes reopen, gradually resume normal watering. Check the compost first, as a dense, dormant plant may still hold moisture around its roots.

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

Repotting

Repot Aeonium 'Black Magic' in spring when it becomes root-bound, unstable or outgrows its container. Remove loose, tired compost, replace it with a fresh, free-draining mixture and choose a pot only moderately larger than the last.

With the plant out of its pot, inspect the roots and remove any dead, hollow or rotten sections with clean snips, leaving the cuts to dry before watering.

Keep the plant at its previous depth. Because the branch junctions sit low on a compact type, take care not to bury any leaves or growing points, which would trap moisture and encourage rot.

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, opened rosettes are the classic sign that Aeonium 'Black Magic' needs more light. Move it gradually somewhere brighter and rotate the pot to rebuild an even, bushy shape.

Soft stems, blackened tissue or sudden collapse point to excess moisture, especially in cold weather or summer dormancy, or where damp air has been trapped among the crowded rosettes. Remove affected growth, improve airflow and let the healthy tissue and compost dry before watering again.

Older lower leaves drying and dropping is normal as the plant matures. Each rosette is monocarpic and dies after flowering, but a branching plant simply carries on through its many other heads.

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

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Aeonium 'Black Magic'

Where it thrives

How to care for Aeonium 'Black Magic'

Plant characteristics

On Arrival

Watering

Light and position

Compost and drainage

Feeding

Winter care

Summer care

Repotting

Common problems

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Aeonium 'Black Magic'

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