Copper Pinwheel
Aeonium 'Copper Kettle'
A branching aeonium hybrid whose flat rosettes glow coppery-orange to bronze in strong sun. The warm metallic tones set it apart from the usual green and black aeoniums.
- Light
- Bright light to full sun
- Water
- When soil dries; less in summer dormancy
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Copper Pinwheel is an aeonium hybrid grown for its remarkable warm coloring — rosettes shift from soft green-yellow in shade to glowing copper, amber, and bronze under bright sun. The flat, pinwheel-shaped rosettes sit atop slender branching stems.
Like other aeoniums it is a cool-season grower, putting on growth in fall through spring and resting in summer heat. It is fast, forgiving, and easy to propagate.
Its unusual metallic tones make it a favorite for adding warmth and contrast to succulent plantings dominated by blues and greens.
How to identify it
- Flat, pinwheel-shaped rosettes of thin, slightly spoon-shaped leaves, 3-5 in (8-13 cm) across
- Color ranges from yellow-green to vivid copper-orange and bronze, deepening with sun
- Slender, branching woody stems form a small shrubby clump over time
- Leaves are smooth with fine margin lashes; lower leaves shed as stems lengthen
- Yellow star-shaped flowers appear on cone-like clusters from mature rosettes
Care & growing
Light: Bright light to full sun brings out the copper color; too little light turns it plain green and leggy.
Water: Water when the soil dries during the cool growing season; reduce sharply in summer when it goes semi-dormant.
Soil: Well-draining cactus or succulent mix.
Temperature: Mild conditions, 40-70 F (4-21 C); protect from frost and extreme heat.
Feeding: Occasional dilute feeding during active growth.
Propagation: Very easy from stem cuttings — callus the cut end and root in dry-ish mix.
Habitat & origin
As a hybrid, Copper Pinwheel has no wild range, but its aeonium parentage traces to the Canary Islands and surrounding Macaronesian region, where aeoniums grow on mild, frost-free rocky coastal slopes.
It is grown worldwide in containers and mild-climate gardens, and indoors in very bright light, thriving in the same cool-winter, dry-summer rhythm as its relatives.
Frequently asked questions
Why has my Copper Pinwheel turned green?
It isn't getting enough light. The copper and bronze tones only develop in bright sun; move it somewhere sunnier to restore the color.
Is it dying when it loses lower leaves in summer?
No. Like most aeoniums it goes semi-dormant and may shed lower leaves and tighten its rosettes during hot, dry summers, then recovers in cooler months.
How do I make it bushier?
Pinch or cut the growing tips; each cut encourages branching, and the removed tips root easily as new plants.
Is 'Copper Kettle' the same plant?
Yes — Copper Pinwheel is commonly sold as Aeonium 'Copper Kettle,' a hybrid grown for its coppery rosettes.
Copper Pinwheel guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Copper Pinwheel.
How to Care for Copper Pinwheel
Grow the coppery Aeonium 'Copper Kettle' for glowing rosettes: bright light, sharp drainage, and lean summer watering during dormancy.
Copper Pinwheel Identification Guide
Recognize Copper Pinwheel (Aeonium 'Sunburst') by its large flat rosettes of cream-and-green variegated leaves edged in coppery pink.
Copper Pinwheel identified by the community
Real specimens identified with Plant Identifier.
