Origin:
Resulting from a mutation of the Aeonium ‘Blushing Beauty’.

Known names:
‘Verna’ — official and most common name —, 维娜 (Weina), formerly called 韶羞黄锦 (Shaoxiu Huang Jin). Also found under erroneous commercial spellings’Vina’, ‘Venra’, ‘Vernar’, ‘Varna’ and ‘Vienna’.

Creation date / Creator:
Discovered in October 2017 in Shanghai (China).

Main sources: Xiaofei (OniGarden), Mr. Hu Tu and Zhi Zhuo Gardening (植卓园艺), in Lijiang.

History of the origin of Aeonium ‘Verna’

The story of the Aeonium ‘Verna’ is probably one of the best documented among the Chinese creations of Aeoniums variegata. It perfectly illustrates the enthusiasm aroused by these exceptional mutations and the considerable efforts made to preserve and then disseminate them.

Originally, this mutation was called “Shao Shao Huang Jin”, in reference to its parent, the Aeonium ‘Blushing Beauty’ (known in China as Shao Shao).

The first appearance of this variety dates back to October 2017, when a Shanghai producer discovered a remarkable mutation on a plant of ‘Blushing Beauty’. After photographing this exceptional plant, he published the photos on a specialized platform, immediately attracting the attention of several collectors.

Seduced by this discovery, Mr. Hu Tu (胡圡, pseudonym STONE) acquired the only known specimen of the plant for a particularly high sum in order to ensure its conservation and multiplication.

The first official photograph of the Aeonium ‘Verna’ (October 2017) is shown below.

A particularly delicate multiplication

Between October 2017 and March 2018, Mr. Hu Tu worked alone on the development of this still unique mutation.

In March 2018, he joined forces with Wang Baozhong (王宝忠, pseudonym 植卓宝爷) of Zhi Zhuo Gardening ((植卓园艺), in Lijiang), nursery specializing in Aeonium variegata, in order to accelerate its multiplication.

The operation turns out to be delicate. After decapitation of the mother plant intended to promote multiplication, the main trunk dies. All that remains is two heads, transferred to Zhizhuo Gardening.

The photographs of these two unique examples are presented below.

A few months later, in September 2018, the first lateral rejection is finally taken and then multiplied by grafting, a technique then favored in order to quickly increase the number of subjects available while limiting the risk of loss.

From this moment on, each new shoot is immediately grafted.

The multiplication then accelerates considerably: in July 2019, near 1,000 plants
Aeonium ‘Verna’ already exist.

The photographs below illustrate this historical phase of multiplication by grafting.

Some photos which show multiplication by grafting.

The origin of the name ‘Verna’

In June 2019, the creators decided that it was time to give an official name to this new variety.

A group of Chinese enthusiasts is invited to propose different names. More than a hundred names are suggested.

The final choice is “Verna” (维娜), a name chosen for its international sound and its supposed inspiration of Greek origin.

According to the creators, this name evokes the idea of “bringing beauty into view in spring”, an image particularly suited to this brightly colored variety.

Botanical description

The Aeonium ‘Verna’ is a shrubby Aeonium variegata resulting from a mutation of Aeonium ‘Blushing Beauty’.

It is today considered one of the most emblematic cultivars of this lineage, in particular thanks to its particularly refined orange hues which have inspired many more recent mutations.

An exceptional color palette

In winter, when temperatures are cool and light is lower, the leaves have a central green band surrounded by wide creamy yellow margins.

Under the effect of a slight increase in light, these margins quickly take on an elegant orange color, a true signature of this variety.

When light intensity, temperatures and water stress increase, pigments gradually evolve towards deeper shades.

The orange tones then become more intense, before revealing deep pink hues which can evolve into red during periods of strong sunshine.

This remarkable chromatic evolution makes ‘Verna’ one of the most spectacular Aeoniums throughout the seasons.

A texture inherited from ‘Blushing Beauty’

Like its parent ‘Blushing Beauty’, the Aeonium ‘Verna’ has slightly velvety foliage.

This soft texture further enhances the elegance of its color gradients and is one of the most appreciated characteristics of this line.

Culture and behavior

Despite its exceptional beauty, the Aeonium ‘Verna’ is known to be more delicate than many other cultivars.

Its main horticultural characteristics are as follows:

Growth: average;
Ability to reject: good;
Fragility: relatively high.

Growing in a perfectly draining substrate, combined with excellent ventilation and protection against high summer heat, generally improves its longevity.

Like all Aeoniums, it remains sensitive to frost and must be protected from negative temperatures.

Mutations from ‘Verna’

The aesthetic quality of Aeonium ‘Verna’ quickly made it an excellent basis for selection.

Several mutations have appeared over the years, the best known of which is undoubtedly:

Aeonium ‘Loki’, a particularly interesting development which takes up the magnificent orange tones of ‘Verna’ while offering better vigor and noticeably easier cultivation.