Why are my leaves dropping?

This is often a sign of underwatering or the plant entering its summer dormancy.

Do they need full sun?

They do best in full sun to partial shade. Direct sun brings out their best color, but give them some afternoon shade in very hot climates.

Plant guide

Aeonium.

Aeonium

Pronounced ee-OH-nee-um

Also known as tree houseleeks

Aeonium smithii — Photo by Elias (CC0) via gbif

Aeoniums are beautiful succulents known for their rosette shapes that look like flowers. They thrive in mild climates and grow best when they get plenty of sunshine. These plants are quite easy to care for if you keep them in well draining soil.

Another photo of Aeonium — Photo by Sheelagh Halsey (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Succulent
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 10 to 21 days
Mature size: 30 to 100 cm
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Late winter to spring

Care

Keep your aeonium in bright light to maintain its compact shape and color. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings to prevent root rot. Watch for shriveling leaves which indicate the plant needs a drink.

Watering: Water deeply but allow the soil to dry out entirely between sessions.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength during the growing season.
Pruning: Snip off dead or damaged rosettes to keep the plant looking tidy.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant has clearly outgrown its current container.
Soil: Well draining cactus mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 5 to 30°C
Humidity: 20 to 40%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years per rosette.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage hole.
The plant becomes top heavy and unstable.
Water runs straight through without soaking the soil.

Safety

People: The plant is generally non-toxic, but the sap can be irritating to sensitive skin.
Pets: Aeoniums are generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: Keep out of reach of small children to prevent accidental ingestion or breakage of the brittle leaves.
Contact allergens: The sap may cause mild skin irritation in some individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no known significant airborne allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

succulent rosettes on woody stems
fleshy leaves arranged in spirals
often displays vibrant purple or red
small star shaped yellow flowers

Height: 0.15 to 1m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, purple, variegated, succulent
Flowers: yellow, white, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

MealybugsCommon
Root RotCommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your aeonium from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, early autumn
Overwintering: Bring containers indoors before the first frost. Keep them in a cool, bright spot and keep watering moderately through the winter months, letting the soil dry out between waterings, since aeoniums grow actively in the cool season and rest in summer.
In containers: They grow exceptionally well in containers, provided the pot has excellent drainage and is at least 15 cm wide.

Stem Cuttings

Cut a healthy rosette with a few centimeters of stem.
Let the cutting dry in a shaded area for 3 to 5 days to callous.
Place the calloused end into a well draining succulent potting mix.
Keep the soil slightly moist until roots develop.

Group succulents with similar water needs to ensure they do not rot from overwatering.

Grows well with

Echeveria · They share similar water and light requirements for a cohesive succulent display.
Sedum · These low growing plants provide a nice textural contrast to the rosettes.

Similar species

Greenovia · It forms tight, rose-like rosettes that look very similar to small Aeoniums.

Science

Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Aeonium
Order: Saxifragales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Canary Islands, Madeira, and parts of East Africa.
Conservation: Not currently of conservation concern, but some species are restricted to specific island habitats.

They survive in rocky, arid environments by storing water in their fleshy leaves.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: container gardening, rock gardens, succulent displays

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Moisture: 2/9
Nutrients: 3/9
Temperature: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my leaves dropping?: This is often a sign of underwatering or the plant entering its summer dormancy.
Do they need full sun?: They do best in full sun to partial shade. Direct sun brings out their best color, but give them some afternoon shade in very hot climates.

Where the name comes from

The name comes from the Greek word aionios, meaning everlasting, referring to the plant's hardiness.

Good to know

Aeoniums are native to the Canary Islands and parts of North Africa.
They are often called tree houseleeks because of their branching habit.
The rosettes close up during hot, dry periods to conserve moisture.
They are closely related to Sedum and Echeveria.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

Keep your aeonium growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.