This Sought-After, Captivating Houseplant Thrives on Neglect – It's Bright Pink and Perfect for Beginners
I spotted the 'Pink Witch' aeonium at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Among the luscious foliage spilling out of the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show Houseplant Studios, there's one small succulent that instantly charms. With beautiful pink and green-striped variegation, the 'Pink Witch' aeonium is the conversation-starting plant I've been missing.
It's the jewel in the crown in An Ode to Endurance (which won Best Houseplant Studio), where it sits in a quiet corner impressing with bubblegum-pink rosettes. As part of the tree houseleek genus, it's a surprisingly easy indoor succulent to care for. Bright light is essential to maintain its vivid hues, but it doesn't require lots of watering or attention, ideal for novices.
This 'Pink Witch' aeonium arrives in a 4-inch nursery plant pot. Its joyful colors make it a beautiful gift for plant-lovers. It does best in bright light and should be left to dry out between watering.
A Vibrant, Low-Effort Succulent
'Pink Witch' aeonium may be one of the smaller species found in Conservatory Archives' An Ode to Endurance, which also houses impressive towering cacti, but it demands attention.
It's a modern tree houseleek hybrid that originated in Asia and hit the market in 2020.
'With dense rosettes of fleshy leaves, atop slender woody stems, members of the aeonium genus are easy to spot. The genus is small, with around 35 different succulent species, but cultivars and varieties exist in great numbers,' says Natalia Drezek, one of the designers on the studio.
'Aeonium ‘Pink Witch’ produces bold bubblegum-pink leaves, with a hint of green and white across the centre. The colour of the leaves can change depending on sun exposure,' she adds.
As they mature, these aeoniums develop trunk-like stems, making them statement succulents through each stage of growth. Though, they typically only reach 12-18" in height, remaining the perfect size for tabletop displays.
Take a look at this mature 'Pink Witch' aeonium on Etsy with multiple trunks, for example – there's no doubt it would bring some architectural interest to any houseplant collection.
As a young plant, it's compact and slow-growing, ideal for adding to succulent arrangements or you can style them on their own, filling gaps on shelves and coffee tables. You can find a single 'Pink Witch' aeonium on Amazon.
They readily branch out and make offshoots, which you can either cut off (using these Fiskars gardening snips from Amazon) and pot up to propagate your succulent, or leave them attached for an impactful cluster of aeoniums to display (like this 'Pink Witch' cluster plant from Etsy).
How to Grow 'Pink Witch' Aeonium
The bottom line of caring for 'Pink Witch' aeonium is following succulent care and keeping in mind how to maintain variegated foliage.
Something to note is that this unusual houseplant's dormancy period is actually in summer, where it actively grows through milder fall, winter, and spring months. This is to conserve energy during hot conditions, as tree houseleeks are primarily endemic to the subtropical Canary Islands.
With all of this in mind, you can successfully grow 'Pink Witch' aeonium as a houseplant by following these tips:
- Soil: When it comes to the best soil for succulents, you need to consider their native habitat. 'Pink Witch' aeonium is not a desert succulent, so it needs a growing medium that retains slightly more moisture. You also want it to be well-draining to ensure its shallow roots don't sit in excessive moisture and experience houseplant root rot. Something like a 50/50 mix of this Miracle-Gro succulent potting mix from Lowe's with a regular houseplant potting mix is a good blend.
- Position: While actively growing, you should provide your 'Pink Witch' aeonium with bright light. 'A spot with plenty of access to direct sun is crucial, ideally a south-facing window, and they enjoy being placed outside for the warm summer months,' says Natalia. This will bring out the most vibrant pinks and greens that make this plant so sought-after. Don't fret if 'Pink Witch' drops some leaves during summer, however, as this is typical during dormancy.
- Water: Just like watering other succulents, these beauties store moisture in their fleshy leaves. This means you can allow its soil to dry out entirely between watering. In fact, it's often a preferred method to bottom water and even soak succulents to provide adequate – but not excessive – moisture. The leaves will provide a hint if the plant is dehydrated by going wrinkly. If needed, you can use this soil moisture meter from Amazon to monitor water levels more easily.
- Temperature: Aeoniums are found in coastal regions, coping with temperatures as low as 41°F. But, for healthy and strong growth, 'Pink Witch' thrives in 65-75°F. It's not frost-tolerant, so if you are growing it outdoors in USDA zones 9-11, make sure move it indoors for winter.
- Feeding: While dormant, you should avoid fertilizing your 'Pink Witch' aeonium. But, during its active growth season it can benefit from a succulent fertilizer (like this available from Walmart) once a month. This can boost growth by replenishing essential plant nutrients.
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