Aeonium smithii

Aeoniums are often termed as being monocarpic.

This essentially means that once the plant produces a flower spike and flowering finishes, the whole plant will then soon die. Now this is very true of certain Aeoniums especially the single head species such as Aeonium diplocyclum or Aeonium nobile, but most Aeonium species and cultivars branch freely so only the individual flowering stems dies back and not the whole plant.

Aeonium smithii is proving a little unique in this respect and will almost always reshoot from a flowering stem.

As you can see in the photo above every branch has flowered so in most cases this would mean the death of the whole plant. 

You will also notice the die back of the flowering stem.

For the purpose of the blog we have removed the dead flowering stems. 

After a very long time.(3 - 4 months)....new shoots gradually appear. Also check out the hairy stems! 

All three bare stems are now producing new growth.

Now 6 months plus since flowering, and you can see where we have cut off the flowering stems.

And now.

Photo of a specimen were we did not cut the flowering stem off which is starting to show new growth. (Above)

Aeonium smithii is possibly the most unique species within the Aeonium genus. With characteristic hairy stems and the very soft delicate foliage, what is not to love!

So the purpose of this blog is to show that you should NOT discard you Aeonium smithii once it flowers and you think it may be dead.