Red and Pink Aeoniums, Varieties and Care

I was excited to see "Carnival" Aeonium cultivars at Oasis Nursery in Escondido, CA.  A spokesperson for Altman Plants (which owns Oasis) told me these pink-and-ruby beauties "are going out to garden centers as a limited item through April."

Aeonium 'Kiwi'

To create new hybrids striped with red, pink, cream, green, or yellow, breeders likely crossed dark red Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' (or brighter red A. 'Garnet') with variegates like A. 'Sunburst', A. 'Emerald Ice' or A. 'Kiwi'. The results, selected over many seasons for exceptional beauty and vigor, are here at last.

Aeonium 'Fiesta', an Altman Plants patented introduction

He also pointed out that their multicolor leaves are reminiscent of Altman's own 'Mardi Gras' and 'Fiesta' introductions.

Carnival aeoniums at Oasis Nursery, Escondido, CA

Caring for Carnivals

Typical of succulents that blush when stressed, red-variegated aeoniums need lots of light to maintain warm hues and tight, symmetrical rosettes. The less light, the more open, looser, and greener the rosettes.

Aeonium 'Mardi Gras' (patented by Altman Plants), above and below. Rosettes show more red or green depending on how much light plants received prior to being on display. 

'Mardi Gras' with ideal light exposure

It's a balancing act to give them adequate sun to hold their color, but not so much they burn. This is especially challenging with cream-striped varieties, because minimal pigment makes them more vulnerable.

Aeonium 'Zwartkop'

Dark pigment and a glossy, reflective sheen are why near-black A. 'Zwartkop' can handle full sun in summer, while yellow-and-green A. 'Sunburst' requires dappled shade.

Aeonium 'Sunburst' grown in optimal light blushes pink on its edges

Care varies depending on location, climate, and time of year. Aeoniums in general thrive along the CA coast, especially where mornings and evenings are overcast, temps stay below 80 F, humidity is low, and there's no rain in summer (similar to their native Canary Islands).

Carnival Aeonium 'Pink Witch'

Avoid giving multicolored varieties direct hot sun on long summer days. Bright shade---the brighter the better---is best.

Aeonium 'Milky White' Variegata is striped with light and dark green, cream, yellow, and red.

Keeping them red

Red, orange and pink hues in succulents tend to be transitory because the plants produce those pigments for protection. Leaves will etiolate (grow longer and flatter) if needing more sun, and stay short if getting a bit too much (which is called being "stressed," a positive phenomenon.)

Carnival Aeonium 'Medusa'

Carnival aeoniums, because they don't have fat leaves like jades or aloes, are more fragile and therefore more difficult to keep looking good.

Thin leaves are susceptible to damage from sun and abrasion. Aeonium 'Emerald Ice', which also forms stem offsets, is likely a parent of this one. 

Aeonium 'Emerald Ice'

When a succulent you purchased for its rosy hues loses its vibrancy and reverts to green, how can you help it regain its color? Gradually lengthen its sun exposure. Think of its leaves as pale skin that you want to tan but not burn.

New leaves in the center of Aeonium 'Garnet' rosettes will redden as they mature, providing they get adequate sun.

Leaves, like skin, produce pigment as a sunscreen. Sunbathe the plant for five or 10 minutes at first, then increase daily exposure until it's in bright but not intense sun for half a day.

Once a variegated aeonium's leaves become long and floppy, they're not going to shorten. But oldest leaves do get replaced over time. With optimal light, new growth from the center of the rosette will be colorful, tight, and  symmetrical.

A 'Sunburst' rosette originally grown in low light has long older leaves. New growth at center is short and colorful, due to the plant transitioning into brighter light.

Are candy-colored aeoniums too finicky?

At present, I consider Carnival aeoniums long-lasting floral arrangements with gorgeous foliage that resembles flowers. I'm hoping they'll prove tough enough to go in the ground.

Carnival Aeonium 'Chanel'

Btw, Altman's spokesperson also mentioned "they seem to not go through summer dormancy like the typical aeonium." Sounds good to me, although my aeoniums don't go dormant unless bone dry. It seems prudent to keep such showy variegates moist (but not wet) in summer.