Aloes

Everything you want to know about aloes, including uses, growing conditions, care, best types and photos of all the best aloes.

Aloe Striata Coral Aloe San Marcos Growers Information on plants grown at the nursery.

The distribution of Aloe microstigma lies in the inland Karoo-like, arid environment of the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, as well as in southern Namibia. The plants grow on the flat scrub plains and rocky slopes among the shrubs that characterise this terrain. This photo was taken in March in the Agtervinkrivier region between Worcester and Robertson. The profusion of plants is typical of what can be seen in its distribution area, the plant not currently being threatened. The winter…

Aloe striata

Scattered stands of Aloe pearsonii in its stony slope habitat may dominate parts of the vegetation. Some bare patches are in view wherever one looks in this arid land, bigger shrubs being few. Succulent plants that store moisture for the frequent dry periods have head start to grow again as soon as conditions permit. Dense branching of Aloe pearsonii allows for a bit of shade to be earned for some of its branches in turn, as well as over the roots. A few small plants unlike aloes are likely…

Photographs of South African Plants

Aloe succotrina with flower

Photographs of South African Plants

Photographs of South African Plants

Aloe microstigma leaves are variable, blue-green to reddish green with many (or few, or on rare ones near Robertson, sometimes without) small white spots scattered over both upper and lower surfaces. The second adjectival part of the scientific name, the specific epithet, microstigma, means small mark in Greek. The leaf surfaces are free of spines, but along the margins there are sharp and rigid, evenly spaced, reddish brown teeth or prickles. These defences bring second thoughts to…

The leaves of Aloe pearsonii are blue-green when in halfday shade and receiving adequate water. When stressed in drought conditions, however, as in its summer flowering season, these thick succulent leaves are often quite red as in the photo. This is also the season when they may be browsed by goats kept by Richtersveld farmers, or its roots eaten by hyraxes and other animals of the veld. Other parties living off this harsh land will increase their demands on every useful plant for moisture…

Aloe variegata

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Aloe perfoliata, the mitre aloe, has long thin stems, seemingly too weak to keep the dense load of stout leaves erect. This plant is known as one of the creeping aloes with stems that often lie on the ground and just the rosettes at the ends of branches pointing upwards. The stem of the young Kirstenbosch plant in picture has not quite succumbed to gravity yet. The leaves of A. perfoliata are triangular, clasping the stems in the encircling fashion that gave rise to the specific epithet…

Aloe Petricola Stone aloeSan Marcos Growers Information on plants grown at the nursery.