Origin:
Hybrid created by Surreal Succulents; its parentage has not been disclosed by the breeder.
Known names:
‘Red Edge’, Red Edge Aeonium, Aeonium Red Edge.
Creation / commercialization date:
Surreal Succulents / 2012.
Aeonium ‘Red Edge’ is a British hybrid created by Surreal Succulents and commercially released in 2012. It is one of the nursery’s relatively early creations and has since become an important parent plant in the history of several more recent variegated aeoniums.
Its name directly refers to its main ornamental feature: the narrow red border that develops around the leaves when the plant receives strong light. This coloration can become especially pronounced when growing conditions favor pigment expression.
Surreal Succulents officially presents ‘Red Edge’ as an Aeonium hybrid, but does not disclose the identity of either parent. This lack of information is important to retain in the cultivar’s description: although certain morphological similarities have led collectors to suggest possible involvement of Aeonium ciliatum, no parentage involving this species has been officially confirmed.
Botanical description
‘Red Edge’ develops a relatively compact, strongly branched habit. It branches readily and produces numerous offsets, gradually forming a bushy plant made up of several rosettes. Surreal Succulents classifies its growth form as branching and describes its growth rate as moderate.
The leaves are fleshy, glossy, and mainly green to light green. Their most striking feature is the margin, which can develop a distinct red to pinkish-red coloration under strong light.
This coloration naturally explains the name ‘Red Edge’.
The intensity of this border is not entirely fixed. As with many aeoniums showing anthocyanin coloration, it depends particularly on light levels and growing conditions. A plant grown with insufficient light may therefore have much greener leaves and a less pronounced red margin.
The rosettes remain relatively compact and are carried on stems that branch progressively. Under good growing conditions, the plant can reach about 40 cm in height and nearly 50 cm in width.
Its abundant offset production is another noteworthy characteristic of this cultivar. It naturally facilitates vegetative propagation and quickly produces a multiheaded plant.
Coloration strongly influenced by light
The red border of ‘Red Edge’ is probably its most readily identifiable feature.
Under strong light, the leaf margins may gradually turn red, creating a marked contrast with the green leaf blades. Conversely, when light levels decrease, this coloration may become much more subdued.
The color of the margin should therefore not be regarded as completely constant. The appearance of the same plant can vary noticeably with the season and growing conditions.
This characteristic also explains why plants photographed at different times can appear to be different cultivars even though they are all ‘Red Edge’.
VARIEGATED AEONIUMS DERIVED FROM ‘RED EDGE’
Known names: Aeonium ‘Butterfly‘ — most widely used name ; 彩蝶 ; Caidie, Cai Die ou Cǎidié ; 彩蝶法師 ; Aeonium ‘Red Edge‘ Variegated ; Aeonium ‘Red Edge‘ Variegata ; 紅緣法師錦 / 红缘法师锦 ; ‘Colorful Butterfly’.
Creation / commercialization date: 2021 (China).
Known names:
‘Sun God’ (most widely used name), 太阳神 ( Tàiyángshén, “Sun God”),’Golden Crown’, ‘Golden Crow’, 太阳神法师, 金乌 (Jīnwū, “Golden Crow”), Butterfly covered wheel brocade.
Mutation of ‘Butterfly’.
Creation / commercialization date: 2024 (China).
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