Aeonium balsamiferum Webb & Berthel. 

🌱 Morphology
   A perennial succulent shrub with relatively slow growth, which can reach a height of between 1 and 1.5 m in adult specimens. It develops erect or ascending stems, with the base progressively lignified and branches topped by compact rosettes about 7–18 cm in diameter. The leaves are fleshy, spatulate, with a slightly pointed apex and a light green to grey-green color, with finely ciliate margins. Its most distinctive feature is the secretion of aromatic substances that give off a characteristic balsamic scent, especially noticeable when handling the leaves. The terminal inflorescences are dense and bear yellow flowers.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Family: Crassulaceae. Subfamily: Sedoideae. Tribe: Sedeae. 

 It is endemic to the Canary Islands, where its natural distribution is concentrated in the north and center of Lanzarote, with also being present in Fuerteventura, where naturalized populations exist. It inhabits dry environments, stony slopes and rocky escarpments, adapting to aridity, high sunlight exposure and soil scarcity. Its presence in other regions is due to cultivation or introduction. It is a species of interest for the conservation of Canary Island flora.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 9b
It prefers mild temperatures and well-ventilated environments. It is recommended to keep it above 5 °C and protect it from frost, especially when combined with high ambient humidity or wet substrate. It can tolerate brief and slight drops in temperature under dry conditions, but it should not be subjected to intense or prolonged cold.

☀️ Lighting
It needs intense light to develop robust stems and compact rosettes. Soft direct sunlight or very bright exposure is recommended, with gradual acclimatization when coming from a greenhouse. As a reference, it can be grown with a DLI PAR of 12–20 mol/m²/day, taking care to protect it from extreme combinations of radiation and heat during the summer.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Summer dormancy. As is the case with numerous Aeonium species from Macaronesian environments, it reduces its activity during the hottest and driest periods. Growth usually resumes in autumn and continues during the mild winter and spring. During the active phase, it is recommended to water abundantly and let the substrate dry before watering again. In summer, watering should be spaced out considerably, especially if temperatures are high. Waterlogging and persistent moisture around the roots must be avoided throughout the year.

🌸 Flowering
At the end of spring, it may produce a broad and branched terminal inflorescence, with numerous small yellow flowers. Flowering is less frequent in young plants and depends on the maturity of the specimen and growing conditions. In addition to its ornamental value, the flowers allow the species to be identified by its combination of yellow inflorescences and aromatic, sticky leaves.

🌿 Nutrition
During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, applied moderately and with the substrate slightly moist. It is advisable to reduce or suspend fertilization during summer dormancy. An excess of nitrogen can promote overly soft stems and less compact growth.

9x9 cm pot

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