Origin

A Japanese variegated cultivar belonging to the dark shrub-form Aeonium arboreum ‘Saint Simon’/‘Atropurpureum’ group. The Japanese register compares it with ‘Saint Simon’ and 黒法師 (‘Kurohoshi’), from which it differs notably through marginal variegation. It was probably selected as a vegetative mutation, but the exact parent and circumstances are not recorded.

Known names

‘Saint Simon Violet’, サンシモンバイオレット (San Shimon Baioretto), ‘St. Simon Violet’, ‘St Simon Violet’, ‘Saint-Simon Violet’, and 墨法師錦 / 墨法师锦 (Mò Fǎshī Jǐn). The latter roughly means “variegated ink-black Aeonium”. ‘Ink Master Brocade’ is an awkward literal translation; 黒法師錦 / 黑法師錦 and ‘Black Rose Variegated’ are ambiguous descriptive names.

Creation date / Creator

Created in Japan by Seiji Takahashi (高橋成治). Plant-variety protection was filed on 17 February 2005, published on 10 August 2005 and officially registered on 6 February 2009 under Japanese registration number 17243. It therefore existed before February 2005. Commercial circulation is documented in Japan by 2015 and in China by 2018.

A Japanese cultivar with a documented history

The official database of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries preserves its registration file. The breeder and rights holder was Seiji Takahashi of Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture, providing unusually precise documentation for an older variegated Aeonium.

An officially described cultivar

The registration describes relatively small rosettes with numerous short, narrow, spatulate and pointed leaves. The main colour is dark red with brown marginal variegation. Depending on season and exposure, green, yellow-green, brown, red, purple and violet may occur in the same rosette.

A plant that changes with the seasons

During active growth, the centre may remain greener or yellow-green while the outer leaves develop red and purple pigments. Strong light deepens the contrast, whereas lower light can temporarily make the plant much greener.

Diffusion into China

Chinese sources list it as 墨法師錦 (Mò Fǎshī Jǐn) and explicitly describe a Japanese origin. The name 圣西门紫罗兰 is also used as a Chinese rendering of ‘Saint Simon Violet’.

A cultivar regarded as delicate

Heavy pigmentation and variegation can substantially reduce active green tissue. Highly coloured rosettes may grow slowly and be more sensitive to extremes. Bright light supports colour, but sudden intense sun can scorch pale tissue; hot, humid and poorly ventilated summer conditions are especially unfavourable.

A frequent identification problem

Confusion appears common between ‘Saint Simon Violet’ and plants sold as ‘Darth Vader’ or ‘Zwartkop Variegata’. Given their similar dark shrub-form background and marginal variegation, some plants sold as ‘Darth Vader’ may be renamed ‘Saint Simon Violet’. Their separation should remain cautious without distinct genealogy or reliable morphological criteria.

An important part of variegated Aeonium history

Its official file documents a Japanese variegated Aeonium in the mid-2000s with a named breeder, filing date and formal morphological description, making it important for understanding Asian Aeonium selection before the later expansion of Chinese breeding.