Among the creations of Penberth Plants, a nursery based in Cornwall, England, Aeonium ‘Black Magic’ holds a distinctive place.
This hybrid stands out for its particularly dark foliage, which can develop very deep purple-red tones when growing conditions are favorable. Its branching habit and ability to gradually form a bushy plant also make it horticulturally interesting.
‘Black Magic’ has an additional appeal for collectors: several variegated mutations have appeared within this lineage, producing plants that may look very different from the original cultivar.
This page therefore records the variegated aeoniums derived directly or indirectly from ‘Black Magic’.
As with the other families presented on VariegatedAeonium.fr, this list may evolve. New mutations, commercial names, and clarifications about parentage can be added as they are documented.
Origin: Parents unknown.
Known names: Aeonium ‘Black Magic’.
Creation date / breeder: British selection by Penberth Plants (UK). Parents unknown.
Botanical description
‘Black Magic’ forms a small, branching succulent shrub whose stems carry terminal rosettes.
The plant usually develops a fairly large main rosette accompanied by numerous secondary branches. With age, it can form a relatively dense, bushy specimen.
It may reach approximately 10 to 50 cm in both height and width, depending on growing conditions and the age of the plant.
The leaves are relatively narrow, fleshy, and distinctly pointed.
The leaves are arranged in a rosette around a center that generally remains greener, while the outer leaves gradually become much darker.
In summer, the green leaves shift to very deep purplish-red tones when the plant receives strong light and water is reduced.
This change helps explain the name ‘Black Magic’.
The plant is not truly black: its coloration is better described as an extremely dark purple-red that may give the visual impression of black foliage under certain conditions.
Color strongly influenced by growing conditions
The color of ‘Black Magic’ is not completely fixed.
Under strong light, with watering adjusted to its growth cycle, the leaves can become extremely dark. Conversely, as light levels decrease, the foliage tends to become greener again.
Color alone should therefore not be used as the sole identification criterion.
A ‘Black Magic’ grown in low light may look very different from a plant exposed to full sun.
Its branching habit, narrow pointed leaves, and generally greener center provide particularly useful additional identification traits.
Growth well suited to containers
‘Black Magic’ is particularly well suited to container growing.
A very free-draining growing medium and a sunny position during the active growth period are recommended, with protection from frost in winter.
As with other aeoniums, its growth cycle must also be considered: the plant generally benefits from good light while actively growing and slows considerably when conditions become very hot and dry.
VARIEGATED AEONIUMS DERIVED FROM ‘BLACK MAGIC’
PEACOCK
Known names: 孔雀锦.
Creation date: 2019 (Chinese selection).
Learn more here.
SUZAKU
Known names: ‘Suzaku’ (the most widely used name), ‘Rosefinch’, ‘Suzaku Super White Variegated’, ‘Peacock Variegata 2’, 朱雀.
A mutation of ‘Peacock’.
Learn more here.
PEACOCK GREY
Introduced in 2025
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