Origin:
Derived from a mutation of Aeonium ‘Peacock’, which itself arose as a mutation of Aeonium ‘Black Magic’.
Known names:
‘Suzaku’ (the most widely used name), ‘Rosefinch’, ‘Suzaku Super White Variegated’, ‘Peacock Variegata 2’, and 朱雀.
Date introduced / breeder:
2022 (China).
Botanical description
Aeonium ‘Suzaku’ is a shrubby variegated Aeonium derived from a mutation of Aeonium ‘Peacock’. It is an especially depigmented form of this lineage, with reduced chlorophyll that gives it a very luminous appearance highly sought after by collectors.
This low proportion of chlorophyll-bearing tissue gives the plant its distinctive appeal, but it also contributes to its fragility and explains its relative rarity in cultivation.
Pale foliage with striking contrasts
In winter, when light levels are lower, its foliage typically consists of:
- a narrow green central band, sometimes reduced to a simple line;
- broad cream-white lateral zones;
- long, narrow leaves reflecting the form inherited from its ancestor ‘Black Magic’.
The limited amount of green tissue gives the leaves a very pale, almost silvery appearance, clearly distinguishing it from ‘Peacock’, which generally contains more chlorophyll.
A spectacular change in color
As light and temperatures increase, the chlorophyll-free areas gradually change color.
The leaf margins may then take on shades of:
- pale pink;
- deep pink;
- and even reddish tones under strong light.
This coloring intensifies the contrast between the green center and the pale parts of the leaf, giving the rosette a particularly elegant appearance.
A rare and unstable mutation
Aeonium ‘Suzaku’ grows more slowly than its parent ‘Peacock’, mainly because its low chlorophyll content limits photosynthesis.
Its main horticultural characteristics are:
- Growth: slow;
- Offset production: moderate;
- Vigor: moderate;
- Fragility: probably above average.
The principal difficulty with this cultivar is the stability of its mutation. Many offsets may gradually lose their variegation and revert toward a form resembling ‘Peacock’, with a higher chlorophyll content.
This instability partly explains why ‘Suzaku’ remains rare and difficult to maintain over time in collections.
An exceptional Aeonium for experienced collectors
With its very pale foliage, changing colors, and low chlorophyll content, Aeonium ‘Suzaku’ ranks among the most distinctive mutations in the ‘Black Magic’ lineage.
Its appeal lies both in its exceptional appearance and in its rare, delicate nature. It perfectly illustrates current interest in extreme variegated Aeoniums, in which the balance between beauty and genetic stability is often very fragile.
Further observations will be needed to better understand its long-term behavior and the stability of this mutation.
SUZAKU PHOTOS
PEACOCK VS. SUZAKU
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