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Aeonium 'Black King Kong' (v)

tree houseleek 'Black King Kong'

A compact, succulent, evergreen subshrub to around 50cm in height, with an open habit and large rosettes of variegated fleshy leaves which are dark red to black when dormant, changing to pinks, greens, purples and white during the growing season. The heads can become very large when mature and these may produce spikes of small, star-shaped, pale yellow flowers in summer

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1C

Botanical details

Family: Crassulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Aeonium are evergreen succulents often of shrubby habit, with fleshy leaves in terminal rosettes on the shoots, and racemes or panicles of small, star-shaped flowers with numerous narrow petals
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in pots of peat-free, loam-based compost with added extra grit. Position in a sunny spot for the best leaf colouration; aeonium will tolerate some shade but the leaves become green. Water moderately when in growth, not at all when dormant. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 2 or 3 times during the growing season. In winter move plants to a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory. See hardy cacti and succulent cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 19-24ºC in spring or by cuttings of rosettes kept at 18ºC and barely moist until rooted

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Houseplants
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, vine weevil grubs and mealybugs

Diseases