Aeonium nobile

Rare and unusual

Aeonium nobile

Name: Aeonium nobile
Brand: Surreal Succulents
SKU: A609-NOBILE
Rating: 5.0 (2 reviews)

£11.00

At a glance

Light: Full sun5+ hours of sun
Lowest temperature: -2°C Takes some frost
Mature size: 60 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.

Aeonium nobile is one of the most exciting and dramatic Aeonium species on the planet.

This Aeonium giant is a must in any collection, a truly stunning Aeonium with its unique growth formation and size, not to mention a rewarding stunning floral display.

With ideal conditions, it can grow up to 3 feet across; each leaf can measure up to 10 inches wide and during the summer the outer leaves turn a beautiful coral colour.

After several years, it will be mature enough to flower. Unlike any other Aeonium, they produce a spectacular scarlet-red 3 to 4ft flower spike with thousands of small individual flowers which will be loved by bees and other pollinators for months.

It has now become endangered in its natural habitat, making it an extremely rare plant to see in cultivation. Endemic to La Palma, Canary Islands.

During the season of 2018, we proudly had several of our most prized specimens come into full flower. We pollinated these to produce the seed for the new stock we now have available. Making this a sustainably sourced rare succulent.

They make unbelievable potted succulent plants, a definite must for any collection.

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

Takes frost down to -2°C. Give it shelter if it gets colder than that.

-2°C

Good places to grow it

Conservatory
Patio
Rockery

Growability: Beginner
Growth form: Singular rosette
Growth rate: Moderate
Mature size (H x W): 60 cm x 50 cm
Foliage colour: Red, Green
Flowers: Red, April to June

Customer reviews

On arrival

Unpacking and planting

Aeonium nobile is delivered bare-root and will need time to establish in its new pot. Unpack it carefully, remove all protective material and check that the stem, rosette and roots have arrived in good condition.

Plant Aeonium nobile in fresh, free-draining compost, spreading the roots naturally rather than forcing them in. For the best start, bury a suitable section of healthy bare stem to anchor this top-heavy plant securely and encourage stronger rooting. Aeoniums tolerate having part of the bare stem buried, but keep the rosette and every healthy leaf above the compost surface. Hold the stem upright while filling the pot, then tap the pot lightly on the bench several times to settle the compost without pressing it down hard by hand.

Wait five to seven days before watering. This resting period lets small root injuries from lifting and transport dry, reducing the risk of rot. After that, water lightly while the roots establish, then use the full 3 D's method once the plant is firmly rooted and growing.

Keep Aeonium nobile in a bright, sheltered position while it establishes. Protect it from intense midday sun for the first week, then introduce it gradually to its recommended light. Temporary softness and the loss of a few older lower leaves are normal while the root system recovers.

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

Watering

Water Aeonium nobile thoroughly, moistening the whole root area and letting all excess escape through the drainage holes. Allow the compost to dry 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. Check the compost regularly through the growing season, but water by how dry it feels rather than to a fixed timetable.

Keep Aeonium nobile much drier during hot summer weather, when it becomes semi-dormant, and through cold winter conditions. Water in the morning so excess moisture can drain and evaporate before temperatures fall overnight.

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

Light and position

Provide Aeonium nobile with Full Sun - 5+ Hours of Sun. Suitable positions may include Conservatory, Patio, and Rockery. Good, strong light keeps the single trunk sturdy and upright and holds the terminal rosette tight and well shaped.

Avoid dark positions, which cause the tall stem to lean and stretch towards the light with nowhere else to draw energy from. Rotate the pot regularly, introduce stronger sun gradually and give temporary shade during intense heatwaves.

Compost and drainage

Plant Aeonium nobile 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.

One large rosette on a tall trunk makes a mature single-stemmed Aeonium distinctly top-heavy. Select a broad, well-weighted, stable container that gives the roots room without being excessively large; surplus compost simply holds moisture and increases the risk of root problems.

We prefer terracotta for these specimens. The extra weight steadies the tall plant, while the porous walls aerate the compost and encourage steady 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 nobile for roughly three to six months. After that, apply a balanced liquid feed at half the recommended strength every two weeks while the plant is in active growth through its spring and autumn growing season.

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

Stop feeding during summer dormancy and prolonged cold weather. Aeonium nobile cannot use extra nutrients while growth is paused, and soft new growth is more vulnerable 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 nobile 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 tall specimen is best given settled winter quarters in a greenhouse, conservatory or bright, cool room.

Keep the compost much drier through winter, watering only around every six weeks on average, as cold, wet roots rot readily. If using horticultural fleece during short cold spells, drape it loosely so it does not crush or press against the single main rosette.

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

Summer care

Prolonged hot weather can send Aeonium nobile into summer semi-dormancy. The rosette tightens, growth stops and the foliage may deepen in colour. This is a normal response to heat and does not mean the plant is dying.

Move it out of intense afternoon sun if the leaves scorch. Reduce watering while the rosette stays closed and stop feeding until active growth returns. 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 nobile cope with heat stress without wetting the roots.

When temperatures cool and the rosette begins to reopen, gradually return to normal watering. Check the compost first, as a 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 nobile in spring or early autumn when it becomes root-bound, unstable or too large for its container. Remove loose, tired compost, replace it with a fresh, free-draining mixture and choose a new pot only moderately larger than the last.

If the trunk has developed a long bare section, it can be planted approximately 10-15cm deeper to encourage additional roots and improve stability. Never bury the leaves or the base of the rosette.

Support the trunk throughout, and lift the plant by the stem rather than pulling on the rosette. The single stem carries the plant's whole structure and can split if bent or placed under excessive pressure.

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

Common problems

A leaning trunk, loose rosette or unusually stretched growth usually means Aeonium nobile needs more light. Move it gradually somewhere brighter and rotate the pot regularly to keep it growing upright.

An unstable plant may have a weak root system, unsuitable compost or a pot too light for the tall rosette. Check the roots, improve drainage and use a broad, well-weighted container.

Soft stems, blackened tissue and sudden collapse are usually linked to excess moisture, especially in cold weather or summer dormancy. Remove affected material where possible and let the healthy tissue and compost dry before watering again.

Older lower leaves drying and dropping is normal, gradually exposing the trunk and giving the tree-like look. Importantly, Aeonium rosettes are monocarpic: a rosette dies after flowering. Because Aeonium nobile has a single main rosette, flowering can end the life of the whole plant, so collect seed or take a top cutting before the flower spike develops.

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