Too much of a good thing

I have the vague feeling I've used this post title before but it's well deserved in this case.  The subject is the current abundance of succulents in bloom in my garden, specifically those of the Aeonium haworthii species.  Although I'm well known for my addiction to flowers, I don't like most of the flowers produced by succulents, feeling that they tend to detract from the sculptural appeal of the plants.  However, I don't generally mind the flowers of Aeonium 'Kiwi' or 'Kiwi Verde' - at least not until they go berzerk.

I've already cut a large number of the flowers, tossing many of them in the trash.

The prelude to clearing these plants obstructing the flagstone path in the back garden last week involved first cutting and discarding all the flowering stems in my way

In addition, prior to the arrival of the crew that took out numerous shrubs and a dead tree I'd targeted for removal this past Monday, I cut all the stems spilling out into paths they needed to cross.  I've also cut the flowers for use as a filler in one of my own floral arrangements, as well as three arrangements I've given to other people this week.  Nonetheless, the sheer volume has become overwhelming and I'm now in an "off with their heads" mode.

Some photos may help make my feelings more understandable.

Of the two varieties of Aeonium haworthii, 'Kiwi' is the more well-behaved in both form and flower.

Flowering 'Kiwi' rosettes in back and front areas of the garden

A mass of 'Kiwi' rosettes edging a bed in the south-side garden with over a dozen flower stems

These are the 'Kiwi' rosette cuttings I saved when I cleared the flagstone path.  I'm planning to use them to edge more beds but I may be more sparing with them than in the past.

The flowers of  'Kiwi' and 'Kiwi Verde' are very similar.

'Kiwi's' flower stalk is on the left and 'Kiwi Verde's' is on the right.  The former's open flowers are lighter in color but otherwise the same as those of 'Kiwi Verde'.

The plants themselves are somewhat more distinct from one another.  'Kiwi's' foliage rosettes are variegated and tend to be smaller than those of 'Kiwi Verde'.  The rosettes of the latter have a subtle red edge and grow taller.  They also grow faster, bloom sooner after planting, and produce longer, floppier flower stems.

You can see the differences in this photo taken at the north end of the back garden

I got carried away planting 'Kiwi Verde' at one point so those flowers now seem to be everywhere.

They don't look too bad in this bed siting next to the back patio (yet)

They look messy in this bed along a path near the south end of the back garden

I think they interfere with the appearance of this bed in the south-side garden

They're partly hidden at the back of this south-side bed but they interfere with passage through a dirt path used by both me and the gardeners who sheer the hedge on a regular basis

They spill into paths and over other succulents in various areas

And they're spilling into the street too

With Mother's Day in mind, I began cutting more of the flower stems, cleaning them of the fleshy lower bits, and plunking them into small plastic bottles I'd saved.  I filled ten bottles with five stems each before I quit.

I placed them at the street's edge as one of my giveaways yesterday morning.  I wasn't at all sure how much appeal they'd have for neighbors. Late yesterday afternoon, when I checked it looked as though only one bottle had been picked up.

Almost all of the larger Aeonium arboreum flowers are long gone and the remaining, still plentiful Aeonium haworthii will soon follow suit.  The only Aeonium flower I'm inclined to leave alone for the time being is this one:

Whereas most Aeonium arboreum produce cone-shaped florescent yellow flowers, hybrid Aeonium 'Sunburst' produced a peachy flower.  If only these plants produced more offsets!

Happy Mother's Day to all who will be celebrating it this coming Sunday!

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party