Origin
Aeonium ‘Garnet’ is an old American hybrid created by Jack Catlin , one of the leading Aeonium breeders of the 20th century.
It is the result of a crossbreeding:
Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ × Aeonium tabuliforme
This hybridization combines the dark colour and shrubby habit of ‘Zwartkop’ with the more compact character and flattened rosettes of Aeonium tabuliforme .
‘Garnet’ belongs to the same family of hybrids as Aeonium ‘Zwartkin’ and Aeonium ‘Jack Catlin’, sharing the same parentage. However, the available historical documentation does not allow us to state with certainty that these three cultivars correspond exactly to the three seedlings initially preserved by Jack Catlin. The records concerning ‘Jack Catlin’ mention three clones, one of which was green and considered insufficiently valuable.
It is therefore more rigorous to present ‘Garnet’, ‘Zwartkin’ and ‘Jack Catlin’ as three selections of Jack Catlin from the same parentage , without reconstructing with certainty a clonal lineage that historical sources no longer allow us to establish.
‘Garnet’ was subsequently selected and distributed by the International Succulent Introductions (ISI) program of the Huntington Botanical Gardens under the reference ISI 95-12 in 1995 .
Famous names
‘Garnet’ — official and internationally recognized horticultural name.
‘Red Copper Pot’ / 红铜壶( Hóng Tóng Hú ) — a name widely used in China, which can be literally translated as « red copper pot ».
‘Irish Eyes’ — a synonym found in some English-language horticultural collections and publications, referring to the contrast that can appear between the green heart of the rosette and its dark red foliage.
⚠️ Caution regarding identifications: Chinese and commercial names associated with ‘Garnet’ should be used with caution. Significant historical confusion exists, particularly between ‘Garnet’ and ‘Zwartkin’, sometimes considered in China to be the same cultivar or equated with the names ‘Red Copper Pot’ and ‘Black Copper Pot’, respectively.
Date of creation/marketing
Creator: Jack Catlin — United States.
Exact date of creation: not determined with certainty.
1995: first officially documented release under reference ISI 95-12 by the International Succulent Introductions of the Huntington Botanical Gardens.
Therefore, 1995 should not be presented as the year in which ‘Garnet’ was created. This date corresponds to its documented distribution by the ISI; the hybridization and selection process must necessarily have taken place earlier.
Botanical Description
Aeonium ‘Garnet’ is a shrubby hybrid with a relatively low, compact, and strongly branched growth habit, developing with age into a dense clump composed of numerous terminal rosettes.
Its architecture is one of its distinctive features: it retains some of the shrubby character inherited from ‘Zwartkop’, while generally displaying a more compact growth habit, probably influenced by Aeonium tabuliforme.
The rosettes can become particularly large during the active growing season and exceed 25 cm (10 in) in diameter on mature specimens grown under favorable conditions.
The leaves provide one of the best criteria for identifying the true ‘Garnet’. Their surface is very smooth, satiny, and remarkably glossy, a characteristic that remains visible throughout much of the year.
Coloration is highly dependent on the season, light intensity, temperature, and the plant’s water status.
During the active growing season and under moderate light, the rosettes generally display a green center surrounded by leaves that gradually develop red, purplish-red, and burgundy tones, giving the cultivar the “garnet” coloration from which its name derives.
As sunlight intensity increases, the red and purple pigments become much more pronounced. In full sun, particularly when the growing medium remains relatively dry, the foliage can turn extremely dark burgundy to almost black, temporarily masking some of its characteristic red coloration.
Conversely, during periods of active growth or when light levels decrease, green becomes clearly visible again at the center of the rosettes, producing a particularly characteristic contrast between the green heart and the dark red outer leaves.
Young branches may also develop strongly red-tinted stems in spring, particularly when they receive good light exposure.
Despite its relationship with ‘Zwartkop’, ‘Garnet’ should therefore not be regarded simply as a black Aeonium. Its distinctive appearance lies more in the combination of glossy foliage, garnet to purplish-red tones, a green rosette center, and a compact, strongly branched growth habit.
⚠️ An Identification That Has Become Particularly Difficult
The true Aeonium ‘Garnet’ appears to be much less common in cultivation today than the widespread use of its name might suggest.
Many plants sold or exchanged under this name are likely to be dark forms of Aeonium arboreum, plants resembling Aeonium arboreum ‘Atropurpureum’, other dark-leaved hybrids, or cultivars showing the influence of ‘Velour’.
Another major source of confusion involves Aeonium ‘Zwartkin’. The two cultivars share the same parents and therefore naturally display strong morphological similarities. Their nomenclatural history in China has further contributed to this confusion.
The identification of a true ‘Garnet’ should therefore ideally be based not only on its appearance, but also on documented horticultural provenance.
This precaution is particularly important when studying the many Asian variegated Aeoniums commercially presented as mutations of ‘Garnet’.
⚠️ About “Garnet Variegata”
Many variegated Aeoniums that appeared primarily in Asia are now presented as mutations of ‘Garnet’ and marketed under names that directly refer to this cultivar.
However, research conducted to date by VariegatedAeonium.fr raises serious doubts about this claimed parentage.
To our knowledge, none of the main variegated Aeoniums currently presented as mutations of ‘Garnet’ has been linked with sufficient documentation to Jack Catlin’s true historical clone.
Given the current state of knowledge, it is therefore preferable to describe them as Aeoniums commercially associated with the so-called “Garnet” lineage, rather than to state that they are genuine mutations of the original Aeonium ‘Garnet’.
Research is still ongoing to determine which cultivar or cultivars actually served as the original parent plants for this important Asian lineage.
Flowering
Like other Aeoniums, ‘Garnet’ is monocarpic at the rosette level: once a rosette has flowered, it gradually dies after producing its inflorescence.
However, in a mature, strongly branched specimen, this generally does not result in the death of the entire plant. The remaining branches continue to grow, allowing the plant to persist.
The identification of a true ‘Garnet’ should therefore ideally be based not only on its appearance, but also on documented horticultural provenance.
This precaution is particularly important when studying the many Asian variegated Aeoniums commercially presented as mutations of ‘Garnet’.
⚠️ About “Garnet Variegata”
Many variegated Aeoniums that appeared primarily in Asia are now presented as mutations of ‘Garnet’ and marketed under names that directly refer to this cultivar.
However, research conducted to date by VariegatedAeonium.fr raises serious doubts about this claimed parentage.
To our knowledge, none of the main variegated Aeoniums currently presented as mutations of ‘Garnet’ has been linked with sufficient documentation to Jack Catlin’s true historical clone.
Given the current state of knowledge, it is therefore preferable to describe them as Aeoniums commercially associated with the so-called “Garnet” lineage, rather than to state that they are genuine mutations of the original Aeonium ‘Garnet’.
Research is still ongoing to determine which cultivar or cultivars actually served as the original parent plants for this important Asian lineage.
Flowering
Like other Aeoniums, ‘Garnet’ is monocarpic at the rosette level: once a rosette has flowered, it gradually dies after producing its inflorescence.
However, in a mature, strongly branched specimen, this generally does not result in the death of the entire plant. The remaining branches continue to grow, allowing the plant to persist.
With the return of cooler temperatures in late summer or early autumn, watering can gradually be resumed. The rosettes then develop rapidly and regain their characteristic appearance.
❄️ Temperatures
Aeonium ‘Garnet’ prefers mild to cool temperatures that correspond to its natural growing season. Growth is particularly active when temperatures remain moderate and nights are cool.
It tolerates relatively low temperatures well, provided it is grown in a well-draining medium and protected from severe frost. As a precaution, frost-free cultivation is recommended, particularly for plants grown in pots or specimens with important documented genetic provenance.
At the other extreme, high summer temperatures generally cause growth to slow down and eventually stop. During periods of intense heat, the plant may enter summer dormancy, significantly reducing the size of its rosettes and shedding some of its older leaves.
The combination of high temperatures + intense sunlight + constantly wet growing medium is particularly unfavorable. During summer, good air circulation, protection from the hottest hours of the day, and much more cautious watering are recommended.
LIST OF VARIEGATED AEONIUMS CLAIMED TO BE DERIVED FROM ‘GARNET’
Known names: ‘Garnet White’ — main name; ‘White Garnet’; ‘Garnet Super White’; ‘Red Garnet’; ‘Red Garnet Super White’; ‘Red Copper White’; ‘Red Copper Pot White’; ‘Red Copper Pot White Variegated’; ‘Garnet White Brocade’; ‘Red Flame Silk Variegated’; 赤銅壺白錦; 红铜壶白法师.
Creation / commercial release date: 2018 (China).
Known names: ‘Jiyue’ — currently the most widely used name; ‘Fallen Whale’; 鲸落 (Jīngluò, literally “Whale Fall”). Spelling variants include ‘Ji Yue’ and ‘JiYue’.
Creation date: 2024 (China).
Origin: Mutation of ‘Garnet White’.
Known names: ‘Straight Flush’ — the most widely used name; ‘Copper Flower’; 铜花; ‘Earl of Heaven’; 伯爵天骄; ‘Tong Hua Shun’; 铜花顺.
Creation date: 2025 (China).
GARNET YELLOW
Known names: ‘Garnet Yellow’ — main name; ‘Garnet Yellow Variegated’; ‘Garnet Yellow Brocade’; ‘Red Copper Yellow’; ‘Red Copper Pot Yellow’; ‘Red Copper Pot Yellow Variegated’; ‘Garnet Red Copper Yellow Brocade’; 红铜壶黄锦; 紅銅壺黃錦; 紅銅壺黃錦法師.
Creation / commercial release date: Present in China by June 2022 at the latest; documented international commercial distribution from 2023 onward. Exact creation date unknown.
Known names: ‘Tianhe’ — the most widely used name; ‘Tian He’; ‘Tian-He’; 天和; 天和法師錦; ‘Heavenly Harmony’; ‘Green Garnet’; ‘Green Red Copper Pot White Brocade’; ‘Fanny Variegated’; ‘Zwartkin Fann’; ‘Zwartkin Fann Variegata’. The French translation ‘Harmonie céleste’ is also occasionally encountered.
Creation / commercial release date: 2021 (China).
PINK BRONZE / PINK GARNET / PINK PANTHER
Known names: ‘Pink Bronze’; ‘Pink Garnet’; ‘Pink Panther’; ‘Pink Panther Variegated’; ‘Pink Bronze Variegated’; ‘Pink Bronze Teacup’; ‘Pink Bronze Tea Cup’; ‘Pink Bronze Teacup Variegated’; ‘Bronze Teacup Variegated’; ‘Purple Bronze Teacup’.
Note: The name ‘Pink Bronze Tea Cup’ is particularly common on the Australian market.
Creation / commercial release date: 2025 (China).
GARNET BIG BANG
GARNET MIDDLE
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