I think I've discovered a new Aeonium hybrid...

[SummaScriptura]

Let me preface the following by saying, I am no expert. I have been a lifelong fan of succulents for their asthetic value, even though I've not always been able to maintain a garden or tell you their names.

But since early June I've been tuned-into my environment more and noticing the variety of aeoniums one can find in San Francisco. It seems like every few days while walking the dog, I notice what is to me a different variety of aeonium, often one which I cannot find in any of the documentation, though perhaps I'm perceiving things wrongly.

Also, I have noted with no little frustration that the same specie of aeonium can appear very different given the degree to which it is being cared for and/or its envoronment.

Having said all of that, I am coming to the conclusion that San Francisco, since its climate is so like the Canary Islands, may be a natural breeding ground for aeonium hybrids which could spring up in an ad hoc fashion.

These plants are growing wild in countless open lots and hillsides in the city, to say nothing of people's yards...

Let me describe a cool one I stumbled upon last week...

All over this city there are hillsides too steep for construction. Over the years, people have tossed their cuttings in these and they have taken root. There is an open lot I found last week which is about the size of 10 (San Francisco size) house lots. In the space of about 3 of these there is one of the largest crop of A. Haworthii I've ever seen. Then at a certain definite demarcation all Haworthii disappear and another, seemingly more successful aeonium takes over. They are not mixing in each other's side of the same hill. At first I even thought these different ones were Haworthii under stress, but I have changed my mind due to the follwoing differences.

1. Instead of the growth pattern of Haworthii which tends to form ball-shaped domes, this variety spreads more evenly like an undulating carpet.
2. Instead of the more open rosettes which characterize Haworthii, these have a more puckered look, like tulips, with tips which come to a somewhat sharper point.
3. Instead of green with red edges, these are pale yellow-green with red edges.
4. These seem to crowd out other plants from around them (if you can believe it) somewhat more successfully than Hawaorthii.
5. In my subjective opinion these have more aesthetic appeal than Haworthii.

I'm thinking due to the proximity to Haworthii, these are a hybrid of Haworthii with something else.

I am sorry I have no pics yet. The weather has been pretty poor of late and when it is well lit, I've been without my camera. Stay tuned.

[amanzed]

Hi SummaScriptura,

I had your SF-area landscape discovery in mind when I happened to be browsing succulents at Annie's Annuals website.

Could the identity of your discovery be Aeonium spathulatum var. cruentum? It seems like a close fit: the robust, spreading (even crowding) habit, the variegated color... Annie's says:

This species responds to the stress of drought by tightening its rosettes so that little water is lost during the hottest, driest parts of the year... In sun, this rare succulent makes a rainbow-hued rounded shrub to 2' or more high and wide... Size is easily controlled by putting the plant into a small pot, as I did.

Annie's Annuals & Perennials - Aeonium spathulatum var. cruentum

[SummaScriptura]

I cannot tell. Her description sounds similar but the picture is so low res I cannot see any similarities...

I was hoping to wait for a sunny day (not common in west SF during the summer) to snap a good photo of this plant in the environment I found it. It is impressive to see an entire hillside carpetted with rossettes so tightly bound not even a blade of grass grows through.

But for now, here is a clump (about 18" across) I grabbed and planted in my backyard and got a snap. Not as impressive, but you get the idea...

[amanzed]

I had an hour to hang out with a friend in San Francisco. I suddenly remembered this plant. "Flora Grubb?" I asked my friend, "is that nearby?"

"Sure!" she said, "we can go there."

We took a few wrong turns, but when we got to Flora Grubb, they had #1 Aeonium nobile (label does not denote hybrid) from Succulent Gardens for $13 I think. These days I hate to pay retail, but it has 3-5 growing points, and lovely thickened, compact rosettes. I love it and will pot it right up.

It was an adventure in more ways than one. Did I mention I was traveling by plane? Somehow I stuffed the hefty plant into a carry-on. A great little accession for a rainy final day visiting San Francisco.

[SummaScriptura]

How's it doing? Slow grower eh?

The two cuttings I was given flowered before branching.

[Shmuel]

That is a very nice plant.

A. nobile is the only red flowering Aeonium. Amanzed, I am not sure if you are saying that is SummaScriptura's plant or just relating your experience. Summa, do you have a photo of the flowers?

Shmuel

[amanzed]

I think my earlier post was attempting to ID the plant SummaScriptura found... that A decorum or A spathulatum or something similar in size but with a different habit, as he described.

My later post about the branching Aeonium nobile (hybrid?) was probably meant to follow up a different thread where the branching Aeonium nobile was the initiating subject (also by SummaScriptura, if memory serves).

In that thread, we discussed how this branching form seems to flower pink or dark pink rather than deep red, which was another clue -- in spite of the robust, thick nobile leaves -- that this A nobile might be a hybrid.

As we know, though, such differences are sometimes due to hybridization, but sometimes it's just different collection or locality, or a sport.

Sorry for the confusing misplacement of my follow-up.

http://www.xericworld.com/forums/crassulaceae/1085-branching-aeonium-nobile.html

http://www.xericworld.com/forums/crassulaceae/873-clustering-aeonium-nobile.html