Aeonium balsamiferum / 20 seeds (Saucer Plant)

One of the most beautiful succulent species, Aeonium balsamiferum, is native to the shrublands and rocky areas of the eastern Canary Islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. It has distinctly shaped thick, sticky, spoon-shaped leaves that form rosettes at the tip of branches and have a strong pleasant balsam fragrance after which the plant has been named balsamiferum.

Each rosette measures around 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter and the leaves that are usually gray-green in color with their tips sometimes turning pink, turning them extremely beautiful-looking.

This sun-loving succulent prefers full sun in coastal areas, but partial shade inland, in hot climates and during summers. But in insufficient light, leaves become deformed and elongated and ultimately die. It’s best to place Aeonium balsamiferum container in a sunny and warm location on a south window. This plant needs water just enough to prevent soil from drying. Soil should be well-draining as the plant doesn’t like waterlogging. A substrate mixture of 60% succulent soil (also known as cactus soil) and 40% mineral component (like perlite or grave, quartz sand and lava rocks is ideal for Aeonium balsamiferum.

Occasionally, Aeonium balsamiferum produces beautiful 6 to 10-inch long panicles of pale yellow flowers.

This species is often grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and containers due to its unique appearance.