Origin:
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is the result of a cross between Aeonium ‘Velour’ and an unidentified hybrid Aeonium named #13.
This creation is the subject of a horticultural patent filed in the United States, allowing its origin and selection process to be traced.
Known names:
‘Mardi Gras’ (official name given by its creator), ‘Red Brocade’ (name used in China).
Date of creation / Creator:
2007 by Renee O’Connell (United States).
History and origin of Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ holds a special place in the recent history of variegated Aeoniums. Created in 2007 in the United States by Renee O’Connell, it is one of the cultivars that has significantly contributed to the current craze for variegated Aeoniums.
Its primary parent, Aeonium ‘Velour’, is renowned for its contrasting colors and distinctive foliage. The second parent, identified by the number #13, remains poorly documented to this day. However, certain morphological characteristics suggest that an Aeonium with traits similar to Aeonium tabuliforme may be involved in its lineage.
Since its inception, ‘Mardi Gras’ has become a true parent plant in the world of variegated Aeoniums, giving rise to an exceptional number of mutations and secondary selections.
Botanical description
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is a shrubby Aeonium cultivar characterized by consistent central variegation and a spectacular color transformation throughout the seasons.
In winter, when light levels are lower, its foliage displays a typical pattern:
- a green central band;
- creamy-yellow lateral bands.
As light intensity increases—particularly in spring and summer—anthocyanin pigments gradually develop:
- the lateral bands take on pink and then red hues, varying in intensity depending on sun exposure;
- the green central zone gradually darkens.
This ability to change significantly based on growing conditions is one of the key features that has contributed to its success among collectors.
A cultivar that has become a benchmark in the world of variegated Aeoniums
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is now considered one of the most historically significant variegated Aeoniums.
Its ability to produce numerous variations has made it a true benchmark parent plant. Many modern cultivars sold in China are directly derived from mutations of ‘Mardi Gras’.
Among the remarkable characteristics of this lineage are:
- a wide diversity of colors;
- a strong tendency to produce mutations;
- a wide variety of shapes and color intensities.
Cultivation and behavior
The Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is generally an easy-to-grow variety.
Its main horticultural characteristics:
- Growth: normal;
- Ability to produce offsets: normal;
- Fragility: No particular sensitivity observed, other than a tendency to flower easily.
A tendency towards reversion
This variety also has a natural tendency to produce shoots that lose their variegation and revert to a greener form.
The known reversion of ‘Mardi Gras’ is named ‘Morticia’. This reverse mutation has now become a sought-after variety in its own right.
WINTER PHOTOS
SUMMER PHOTOS
Mutations derived from Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’
Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ is likely the Aeonium that has given rise to the greatest number of modern variegated cultivars.
This list is constantly evolving with the appearance of new mutations and selections, particularly from Chinese collections.
Known names: ‘Auspicious Clouds’ — the most widely used international name —, 祥云, Xiangyun, Xiang Yun and 祥云法师. ‘Auspicious Cloud’ is an occasional grammatical variant. Its name means « Auspicious Clouds. »
Date of creation/commercialization: 2023 (China).
BLACK MAMBA
Commercial release: 2023
Known names: Aeonium ‘ Black King Kong‘, ‘ Moya‘, ‘ Mo Ya‘, 墨娅 (Mòyà), 黑金刚 / 黑金剛 (Hēi Jīngāng), 黑金刚法师 / 黑金剛法師.
Creation / commercial release date: 2020 (China).
Known names: ‘ Watermelon Taro‘, ‘ Fireworks‘, ‘ Melon Taro‘, 西瓜太郎 and 烟花. The name ‘ Watermelon Taro‘ likely stems from an approximate transliteration of 西瓜太郎, which actually means « Watermelon Tarō » or « watermelon boy. » The names ‘ Spark‘ and especially ‘ Dragon Fly‘ are not sufficiently documented to be accepted as confirmed synonyms.
Creation / commercial release date: 2021 (China).
Mutation of Watermelon Taro: Loochoo
RED KING KONG
Known names: ‘ Red King Kong‘ — most common name; ‘ Red Kingkong‘; 红金刚 / 紅金剛 (Hóng Jīngāng); ‘ Black King Kong Red Form‘.
Mutation of Black King Kong
Date of creation/commercialization: 2022 (China).
YELLOW KING KONG
Known names: ‘ Yellow King Kong‘ (most common name); ‘ Black King Kong Yellow Form‘; probably 黄金刚 (Huáng Jīngāng, « Golden King Kong »). The names ‘ Black Angel‘ and ‘ Beacon Variegated‘ have sometimes been associated with this cultivar, but these equivalences are not sufficiently established.
Mutation of Black King Kong
Date of creation/commercialization: 2023 (China).
Known names: ‘ Spark Bang‘ (most common name); ‘ Dark Orchid‘; ‘ Junior Sister‘ ; 墨兰 (Mòlán, « Ink Orchid »). The name ‘ Junior Sister‘ has historically been used commercially—sold as such by ABC Succulent on the Chinese market—but it does not correspond to the translation of the Chinese name 墨兰.
Creation/Commercialization date: 2023 (China).
More info here.
Known names: ‘ Black Peony‘ (most widespread international name); ‘ Black Peony Variegate‘ ; 黑牡丹 (Hēi Mǔdān, « Black Peony »). No other reliable synonyms have been identified.
Creation/Commercialization date: 2020 (China).
CAT EARS
Known names: ‘ Cat Ears‘ — the only clearly identified commercial name. The variant ‘ Cat Ear‘ may occasionally be encountered, but no Chinese or Korean name, nor any other reliable synonym, has been found.
Creation/Commercialization: 2022 (China)
Known names: ‘Ink Painting’, ‘Ecstasy’, 水墨画 ; ‘Ecstacy’ is a common misspelling. ‘Beyoncé Painting’ is sometimes cited as a synonym but may refer to a distinct selection or mutation.
NOTE: ‘Ink Painting’ is currently the most widely used international name, whereas ‘Ecstasy’ appears to have been an older—possibly even earlier—trade name.
Date of creation / commercial release: 2018 (China)
More info here.
Known names: ‘ Danqing‘ — most widely used international name; ‘ Dan Qing‘ ; ‘ Ink Danqing‘ ; 水墨丹青 (Shuǐmò Dānqīng) ; abbreviated form 丹青 (Dānqīng). The spelling ‘ Dang Quing‘ is an occasional misspelling.
Date of creation / commercial release:
2022 (China).
Mutation of Ink Painting.
Date of creation / commercial release:
2022 (China).
More info here.
GREEN INK PAINTING
Known names: 绿体水墨, Ecstasy verde.
INK PAINTING BLACK
Known names: 黑体水墨画, Ink Painting Black, ‘Black Elf’.
Mutation of Ink Painting.
Commercial launch: 2022
OIL PAINTING
Known names: ‘Oil Painting’ (most common name), ‘Oil Painting Variegated’.
Mutation of Ink Painting.
Commercial launch: 2022 (China)
OIL PAINTING GIRL
Known names: ‘Oil Painting Girl’ (most common name).
Mutation of ‘ Oil Painting‘.
Commercial launch: 2025 (China)
PINK INK
Known names: ‘Pink Ink’ (most common name), ‘Pink Ink Painting’, ‘Ink Painting Pink’, ‘Ink Painting Pink Variegated’ and ‘Ink Painting Pink Variegate’.
Ink Painting variation
Market launch: 2023 (China)
Known names: Scarlett Ink — western name retained; Scarlet Ink; Fairy Ink; Ink Fairy; Bright Ink; Feimo; Xianmo; 绯墨 / 緋墨 ; 仙墨 ; 绯墨法师 / 緋墨法師 ; 仙墨法师 / 仙墨法師 ; 仙墨法师锦.
The first documented Chinese name is 仙墨 — Xianmo. It was then replaced by 绯墨 — Feimo.
Date of creation / marketing: 2018 (China)
Mutation of Ink Painting.
More info here.
Known names: ‘Green Wave’ (most common international name), 碧浪, ‘Bilang’, ‘Bi Lang’, ‘Blue Wave’, ‘Jade Wave’, 绿体仙墨法师, ‘Green Xianmo’, ‘The Green Lotus’. ‘Ariel’.
Scarlett Ink Mutation
Date of creation / marketing: 2021 (China)
More info here.
Known names: ‘ Poison‘ — most common name; 毒药 (Dúyào).
Mutation of Scarlett Ink.
Date of creation / commercialization: 2020 (China).
More info here.
New for 2024
Almost certainly a mutation of Poison
More info here.
LIULI
Known names: ‘Liu Li’, ‘Liuli’, ‘Liu Li Glass’ and ‘Liuli Glass’. The name likely alludes to the Chinese term 琉璃 (Liúlí), referring to colored glass or a crystalline material, though the Chinese characters have not yet been found in a primary horticultural source regarding this clone. Do not confuse with ‘Feicui Liuli’ — 翡翠琉璃 —, a distinct mutation derived from Aeonium ‘Maybach’.
Date of creation / commercialization : Creator, location, and precise date of appearance unknown. The earliest dated commercial publication found dates back to October 3, 2023, under the name ‘Liu Li Glass’. Its wider distribution as a new release appears to have begun in 2024.
Poison mutation
SUPER INK
Known names: ‘ Super Ink’; ‘Super Ink Painting’; 超墨; Chāomò or Chaomo; 超墨法师; 超墨法师锦. (‘Super Wave Ink’?).
Creation / commercialization date: Exact date unknown. The cultivar was already named and cultivated in China on May 8, 2021. Its selection and the start of its commercialization likely date back to 2020 or early 2021.
YELLOW PEAR
2023 new release. A mutation similar to Poison in some respects. If you have photos or information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Known names: ‘Chang’E’ — also written ‘Chang’e’ or ‘Chang E’ — and 嫦娥 (Cháng’é).
Creation / commercialization date: 2021 (China).
Known names: ‘Fire Cloud’ — the most widely used international name —, ‘Burning Cloud’, ‘Burning Clouds’, ‘Evening Glow’, ‘Huoshaoyun’, ‘Huo Shao Yun’, 火烧云 and 火燒雲.
Market launch: 2023 (China).
More info here.
Known names: ‘Hongyan’ (most common name), also written ‘Hong Yan’, 红颜 and, in traditional characters, 紅顏.
Creation / Commercialization: 2017 (China)
Known names: ‘ Moon Chan‘ (most common name), ‘ Moonchan‘, ‘ Yuechan‘, ‘ Yue Chan‘, ‘Moon Belle’, ‘Moon Goddess’, ‘Moonbell Yuechan’, 月婵, 月蝉 and sometimes 月禅.
Mutation of Hongyan
Creation / Commercialization: 2022 (China)
Known names: ‘Lotus’ (most common name), Daffodil, Daffodils, Limbo Fairy, Lingbo Fairy, lingboxianzi, 凌波仙子.
Date of creation / commercialization: 2022 (China).
Known names: ‘Meiji’ — most common name —, ‘Miki’, ‘Maggie’, 美姬 and 美姬法师.
Creation / commercialization: 2018.
More info here.
PINK MEIJI (粉体美姬)
A pinker Meiji mutation.
Creation date: 2025.
CLOUD GIRL
Known names: ‘Cloud Girl’, ‘Miss Cloudy’, ‘Cloud Woman’, ‘Yunji’, ‘Yun Ji’, 云姬 / 雲姬. The best documented international name is ‘ Miss Cloudy’. The Chinese name roughly means « Lady of Clouds » or « Cloud Princess ».
Mutation of ‘Meiji’.
Date of creation / marketing: 2023 (China).
Known names: ‘Pampas’ — most common name —, 潘帕斯, 潘帕斯法师, Panpasi.
Date of creation / marketing: 2020 (China).
More info here.
Known names: Pink Daisy — main western name; Fendai; Fen Dai; 粉黛; 粉黛法师 / 粉黛法師 ; Firefly; Yinghuo; 萤火 / 螢火 — first Chinese name; Candy Fendai; 糖果粉黛.
Created/marketed: China (2018).
PINK DAISY SILK
Known names: Firefly Silk
New for 2024.
If you have photos, please feel free to send them to me.
Known names: ‘Glowworm’ (most common name), Firefly, Pink & Black Firefly, Mo Dai, Modai
Known names: Green Evil
Mutation of Glowworm
More info here.
MO QI
Known names: ‘Moqi’ or ‘Mo Qi’, 墨琪. The name ‘Pink Beauty’ is sometimes associated with it in the trade, but this equivalence remains to be confirmed.
Mutation of Pink Daisy
PANDORA
Mutation of Pink Daisy
If you have photos, please feel free to send them to me.
PINK GLOW
Known names: ‘Pink Glow’ (most common Western name), ‘Fenxia’, ‘Fen Xia’, 粉霞.
Created: 2022.
Known names: ‘ Purple Glow‘ — the most common Western name —, ‘ Purple Fairy‘, ‘ Zixia‘, ‘ Zixia Fairy‘, ‘ Purple Cloud Fairy‘, ‘ Purple Cloud‘, 紫霞 and 紫霞仙子. The names ‘ Purple Light‘, ‘ Purple Kasumi‘ and ‘ Lavender Fairy‘ are also encountered, but appear to be secondary commercial translations or adaptations.
Date of creation / commercial release: 2018 (China): 2021 (China)
PURPLE MAGIC
PURPLE SMOKE
Known names: ‘Black Poison’.
New for 2024. If you have photos or information about this Aeonium, please feel free to contact me.
RED DEVIL
Known names: ‘Red Devil’ (preferred name), ‘Red Devils’, ‘The Red Devils’, 红魔, 紅魔, ‘Hong Mo’. The name ‘Xianya’ (仙娅) also appears to refer to this variety on the Chinese market
Date of creation / commercial release: 2022 (China).
RAIN BUTTERFLY
If you have a photo of it, I’d be interested 😉😊
RED MAKEUP
The first precisely dated commercial listing found was published in September 2024.
If you have his photo I would be interested 😉😊
Known names: Aeonium ‘Venus’, 维纳斯 / 維納斯, 维纳斯法师 / 維納斯法師, sometimes
Date of creation: 2020 (China).
CANAAN
Known names: ‘Canaan’ (most widespread name).
Information on this cultivar is extremely scarce.
Mutation of Venus.
CAESAR (CZA R)
Known names: ‘Caesar’ (currently the most commonly used name), ‘Czar’ (original name), ‘Tsar’, ‘ Shahuang‘, 沙皇. Some sources also suggest a possible link to ‘Jade Rabbit’, though this has not been confirmed to date.
‘ Tsar‘ is the most direct modern English translation of 沙皇.
Mutation of Venus
Date of creation / commercialization: 2021 (China)
Known names: ‘ Wu Tian Ji‘(most widespread name), (舞天姬, Chinese name), ‘ Wutianji‘, ‘ WuTianJi‘, ‘ Dancing Beauty‘, ‘ Dancing Girl and sometimes ‘ Dancer‘. The name ‘ Big Wave‘ or 大波浪 is frequently cited as an equivalent. There is significant confusion with *Aeonium* ‘ Venus‘ — 维纳斯 — sometimes sold as the same plant.
Date of creation / commercial release: 2020 (China)
More info here.
GOLDEN FROG
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