Near-black without dye
Dense anthocyanins create a black impression, while the underlying colour is extremely deep burgundy.
Aeonium 'Zwartkop' 5.5cm
Normal price
€3,50
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Aeonium 'Zwartkop'
The succulent dressed for the evening 🎩
- Crassulaceae
- Black-burgundy foliage
- Stemmed rosette
- Winter growth
- Awarded cultivar
Aeonium 'Zwartkop' forms a glossy rosette so dark it appears black, with deep burgundy revealed at the edges and when light passes through. The rosette gradually rises on a woody stem, creating the silhouette of a miniature dramatic tree.
Its near-black palette is among the strongest in the succulent world and behaves like a natural high-contrast sculpture. This classic recognised cultivar has enduring collector value and suits anyone wanting a small plant that develops clear architectural presence with age.
What makes it stand out
Three defining details that turn its botanical identity into real presence for a collection and interior.
A rosette that becomes a small tree
The stem lifts the crown and can branch, transforming a tiny start into architectural form.
A cultivar with international recognition
The Royal Horticultural Society recognises ‘Zwartkop’ and has confirmed its Award of Garden Merit.
Why you’ll love it: it begins as a small dark rosette and develops into a dramatic tree-like sculpture with enduring recognition.
In your spacePlacement & plant pairingsWhere it looks best and which plants complement it
Where it looks its best
It looks striking in white, pale concrete, raw terracotta or bronze-toned ceramic. Place it against a light background so the dark rosette is sharply outlined. As it grows, leave visual space around the stem and do not hide the miniature tree structure.
Plants that complement it
Pair it with plants that genuinely share its light, substrate and seasonal rhythm. Separate pots keep care precise for each one.
- Echeveria ‘Lola’ — porcelain lilac that illuminates the near-black colour.
- Sedum ‘Tokyo Sun’ — vivid yellow groundcover for maximum contrast.
- Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ — a cream-green related rosette sharing the same seasonal rhythm.
Care at a glance
Light
Abundant direct sun after acclimation for a dense rosette and deep colour.
Watering
More during the cool active season, far less during summer dormancy.
Seasonal rhythm
Winter-growing rhythm, summer slowdown and protection from frost.
Pets & children
No complete cultivar-specific safety assessment is available; prevent chewing and ingestion.
For this plant
Substrate & nutrition
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, drying cycle, climate, substrate and feeding in detail
Light and position
Provide very strong light and ample direct sun, increasing exposure gradually. Strong light maintains deep colour, while shade produces a green open rosette.
Correct watering
Water during the cool active season once the upper and middle mix has dried. In summer dormancy the rosette closes and water is reduced sharply without exhausting the stem.
Airflow and humidity
It needs airflow around the rosette and especially at the stem base. Remove dry leaves that accumulate as a skirt and could trap moisture.
Temperature and seasonal rhythm
Unlike many summer-growing succulents, it is active from autumn through spring and slows in intense summer heat. Do not try to force open a closed summer rosette with frequent water.
Substrate
Use a porous mix with good mineral content but enough retention for winter growth. The pot should remain stable as the stem rises.
Feeding, repotting and handling
Provide gentle balanced nutrition at the start of autumn growth and, if needed, one further dilute feed in spring. Do not feed during summer dormancy.
Botanical identityIdentity & natural originAccepted name, taxonomic history and natural or cultivated provenance
A recognised cultivar
Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ is an accepted horticultural cultivar at genus level. It also circulates as Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’.
Connection to Aeonium arboreum
The underlying Aeonium arboreum is accepted and native to the Canary Islands and south-western Morocco. The cultivar itself is a cultivated clone, not a wild black population.
Horticultural recognition
The Royal Horticultural Society records the cultivar, its deep black-purple foliage, yellow flowers and confirmed Award of Garden Merit.
From natural habitat to care: The subtropical Mediterranean-type climate of wild Aeonium arboreum has a cooler moist season and a dry hot summer. This explains the cultivar’s reversed rhythm: growth from autumn to spring and rosette closure in summer heat.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific facts nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
The “black” is deep burgundy
Anthocyanins absorb much of the visible light and make the leaves appear almost black.
The rosette closes in heat
Summer contraction reduces exposed surface and protects the centre during seasonal dormancy.
The stem becomes woody
With age it develops woody texture and lifts rosettes above the ground like a miniature shrub.
Flowering is monocarpic per rosette
A rosette that flowers completes its own cycle, but branches can continue the plant.
Frequently asked questions
Useful answers about light, watering, seasonal rhythm and the plant’s correct identity.
01Why is it not black in shade?
Deep colour depends on strong safe light. Under low light, new leaves emerge greener.
02Why does it close in summer?
This is natural summer dormancy in the genus. The rosette reduces exposed area to limit losses.
03When should it receive more water?
From autumn through spring, while fresh growth is visible and the mix dries between waterings.
04Will it grow tall?
With time it develops a woody stem and may branch. Final height depends on clone, light and pruning.
05Can it be pruned?
Yes. Heads root after the cut dries, and the old stem often produces new branches.
06Does each rosette flower once?
Yes, that rosette completes its cycle after flowering, while the plant continues through lateral branches.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.