🌱 Morphology

A small Aeonium with a compact and highly branched habit, forming a rounded clump resembling a miniature bonsai. Its stems end in numerous small rosettes, generally about 4–6 cm in diameter, with fleshy, glabrous leaves and a slightly sticky surface. The foliage combines green tones with irregular reddish or maroon markings; when exposed to intense light, the leaves acquire coppery and bronzed hues, especially during the summer. The color contrast and multiplication of rosettes make this cultivar a highly prized piece for collectors.

🌍 Origin, genealogy and family

‘Bronze Medal’ is a horticultural hybrid introduced by the International Succulent Introductions program at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in 2002. Its complete genealogy is unknown: Aeonium sedifolium is considered one of its parents due to the small size of the rosettes, the red-marked foliage, and the hemispherical habit; the second parent has not been identified. The name refers to the small rosettes, resembling medals, which acquire bronzed tones during the summer.

Family: Crassulaceae. Subfamily: Sempervivoideae. Tribe: Aeonieae. Genus: Aeonium. Cultivar: ‘Bronze Medal’. No specific parental combination should be attributed as if it were proven.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 9b

It tolerates brief drops close to −4 °C in dry conditions, but prolonged frosts and the combination of cold and humidity can damage it. In Madrid, it is recommended to grow it in a pot and protect it from frosts, keeping it during the winter in a bright and ventilated space.

☀️ Lighting

It needs abundant light to develop its characteristic coppery coloration. Very bright exposure is recommended, with soft morning or late afternoon sun and gradual acclimatization to intense direct sunlight. In shade, the rosettes tend to remain greener and the stems may elongate. As a general reference, a PAR DLI of 12–20 mol/m²/day promotes compact growth and good color expression.

💧 Growth cycle and watering

Moderate summer dormancy. As with many aeoniums, growth slows down in the heat and the rosettes may intensify their bronzed tones. However, it does not exhibit extreme summer dormancy: occasional watering can be maintained if temperatures, ventilation, and the condition of the plant allow. During the cool growing period, it is recommended to water thoroughly and let the substrate dry before the next watering. In summer, reduce the frequency and prevent the substrate from remaining moist for prolonged periods.

🌸 Flowering

It can produce inflorescences with small pale yellow star-shaped flowers, generally during the spring. As with other aeoniums, the rosette that flowers ends up dying after flowering, although the plant usually retains other rosettes and branches that maintain the specimen.

🌿 Nutrition

During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended. Apply in moderation and reduce or suspend fertilization during periods of intense heat and slowed growth. An excess of nitrogen can promote looser stems and reduce the compactness of the whole.

9x9 cm pot

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.