Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar) For a long time this cultivar has been considered a sport of the Aeonium arboretum. It now seems that it comes from the Canary islands, thus it then cannot be a cultivar of A. arboreum, since A. arboreum doesn't come from there. The latest theory is that it is a cultivar from A. manriqueorum.

• Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum (W.A. Nicholson) A.Berger
• Aeonium arboreum f. atropurpureum hort.
• Aeonium atropurpureum hort.
• Aeonium manriqueorum f. atropurpureum hort.

• Aeonium arboreum (L.) Webb & Berthel.
• Sempervivum arboreum L.
• Aeonium arboreum var. albovariegatum (Weston) Boom
• Sempervivum arboreum var. albovariegatum Weston
• Aeonium arboreum var. luteovariegatum (Weston) Boom
• Sempervivum arboreum var. luteovariegatum Weston
• Aeonium doramae Webb ex A.Berger
• Aeonium doremae Webb ex Christ
• Aeonium manriqueorum Bolle
• Sempervivum chrysanthum Hochst. ex Britten

• Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum (W.A. Nicholson) A.Berger
• Aeonium arboreum f. atropurpureum hort.
• Aeonium atropurpureum hort.
• Aeonium manriqueorum f. atropurpureum hort.

• Aeonium arboreum atropurpureum f. cristatum hort.
• Aeonium atropurpureum f. cristatum hort.

• Aeonium arboreum subs. holochrysum (H.Y.Liu) Bañares
• Aeonium arboreum var. holochrysum H.Y.Liu
• Aeonium holochrysum Webb & Berthel.
• Aeonium vestitum Svent.
• Sempervivum urbicum Lindl.

• Aeonium arboreum subs. korneliuslemsii (H.Y.Liu) Dobignard
• Aeonium korneliuslemsii H.Y.Liu

• Aeonium arboreum var. rubrolineatum (Svent.) H.Y.Liu
• Aeonium rubrolineatum Svent.

• Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum cv. Schwarzkopf (Zwartkop) hort.
• Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum f. nigrum cv. Schwarzkopf (Zwartkop)
• Aeonium atropurpureum cv. Black Rose
• Aeonium manriqueorum cv. Schwarzkopf hort.

Description: It is a branching succulent shrub that produces magnificent, almost black-purple, leaf rosettes at the ends of its branches.
Stem: Forms grey-green beached trunk, spread 25 to 60(-100) cm.
Rosettes: Rosettes are formed at the ends of the stems.
Flowers: Light yellow flowers that form long clusters.
Blooming season: Summer.
Remarks: The cultivar 'Zwartkop' is a very dark selection of Aeonium arboretum with tall arching stems and large heads of deep purple black foliage. It differs from the common Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum' which has somewhat shorter stems and smaller heads of dark reddish purple foliage. Sometimes it produces nice crested stems and seems to to change in and out of its crested mode during the years.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Forest & Kim Starr “Aeonium sp. (Aeonium)”. Plants of Hawaii. <http://www.starrenvironmental.com>. Web. 27 Sep. 2014.
2) Sunniva Harte “The Perfect Garden: The Best Plants for the Best Design” Trafalgar Square Pub., 2001
3) Tom Hart Dyke “An Englishman's Home: The Adventures Of An Eccentric Gardener” Random House, 15/Dec/2010
4) Guy De Chauliac “Commentary” BRILL, 1997
5) Umberto Quattrocchi “CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology” CRC Press, 29/Nov/1999
6) Reid V. Moran “Aeonium arboreum var. arboreum (Linnaeus) Webb & Berthelot [family CRASSULACEAE] Flora of North America” Vol 8 Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 2009.
7) J. G. Baker. “Flora of Tropical Africa” Vol 2, page 385 1871
8) “RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants.” United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008
9) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae” Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 05/Nov/2012
10) Bruce G. Baldwin, Douglas H. Goldman “The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California” University of California Press, Berkeley 01/Jan/2012

Cultivation and Propagation: It requires gritty well drained potting mix. Water deeply but infrequently. Plants are allowed to thoroughly dry in-between waterings. During the winter months restrict water to about once a month, or just enough to keep the foliage from shrivelling. Position in full to part sun in a sheltered spot, but the bright light enhances the rich hues of the darker Aeoniums, and the subtle blushes of the other colours, but prefers light shade to shade in summer. The plants tend to go dormant in the summer and look a little tired sometimes, but they perk up again in the fall. Summer is the natural dormant season for this species in its native land. Needs protection from severe winter frosts (Hardy to -2°C or a little less for short periods), over winter under glass in all but the mildest of gardens.
Propagation: Aeonium arboreumSN|149]]SN|149]] var. atropurpureum cv. Schwarzkopf (Zwartkop) is easily propagated by cuttings in the spring. When the stem becomes too tall, just cut the top rosette with a piece of stem and plant it. It will soon take root, while the plant left with just the stem will soon grow new buds that can be in turn used for propagation. Time to take cuttings: April to July
Use: Aeoniums make excellent summer bedding plants, since their architectural shape contrasts well with most other bedding plants. They can also be used effectively planted in containers.