Aeonium arboreum (Tree Aeonium)

Aeonium arboreum, commonly known as Tree Aeonium or Tree Houseleek, is an evergreen succulent subshrub in the Crassulaceae family native to the Canary Islands and southwestern Morocco. It develops upright, branching, increasingly woody stems topped by large rosettes of smooth, fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves. Plants typically reach 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) tall, gradually developing a distinctive miniature-tree appearance. Mature rosettes produce large conical clusters of numerous small, bright yellow, star-shaped flowers, usually during winter and spring.

Aeonium arboreum grows best in full sun to partial shade and sharply drained soil, with more regular moisture during its active growth in the cooler months and reduced watering during summer dormancy. It is drought tolerant but performs poorly in constantly wet soil. Hardy in USDA Zones 9-11, it should be protected from hard frost and prolonged freezing temperatures. Popular cultivars and selections include the very dark-leaved 'Zwartkop' ('Schwarzkopf') and several green, bronze, and variegated forms. The old name Sempervivum arboreum is an accepted botanical synonym and is still encountered in older literature.