Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’
Aeonium zwartkop, black rose
This subtropical succulent is a native of the Canary Islands. The cultivar name “Zwartkop” means “black head” in Dutch. While its natural counterpart has yellow-green, sometimes purple-tinged leaves, this hybrid has leaves such a dark shade of purple that they appear black.
Plants: This aeonium has deep purple-black glossy leaves arranged so they resemble a rose, hence the common name black rose. Technically it is a subshrub, reaching heights of 6½′ (2 m).
Leaves: The deeply colored leaves form flattish rosettes 4–10″ (10–25 cm) around. Leaves are obovate.
Flowers: In the winter, there are bright yellow flowers, inflorescences 4–10″ (10–25 cm) long on stems [Sizee(130-510 mm)] long.
Fruits: Small, fleshy capsules containing a single seed dry, releasing it for wind distribution.
Habitats: Subtropical. In dry, somehwat more temperate climates, this can be invasive.
Online References:
Wikipedia (Aeonium arboreum)
Aeonium arboreum ‘Schwarzkopf’
2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm) 
2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Rosales | Rose family and eight others |
| Family | Crassulaceae | Succulents that store water in leaves |
| Genus | Aeonium | Means “ageless” (not sure why); plants have a basal rosette of leaves |
| Species | arboreum | “Tree-like” |
Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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