The biggest succulent you ever saw

Dear John,
Before I make a jerk of myself again (recall my recent Furcraea foetidissima variegata gaffe) can you ID this succulent? Aeonium something-something? It’s oversized. Bigger than a basketball.

Hi Cindy,
Though redder than usual (maybe just the photo) it is a hybrid of Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’. The latter is the very dark purple selection, almost black in summer, that was selected in Holland in the 50s. A number of hybrids have been made between ‘Zwartkop’ and various species, mostly by the late Jack Catlin.

While not as dark as the parent, the hybrids do incorporate some of the red or purplish foliage color. I can’t be sure which of the ten or so named hybrids the one in your photo might be.
All the best, John Trager (curator of cacti and succulents at Huntington Botanical Gardens)

whatever
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