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Products > Aloe barberae   Aloe barberae - Tree Aloe    [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Succulent Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) Origin: South Africa (Africa) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Rose Pink Bloomtime: Fall/Winter Synonyms: [Aloe bainesii] Height: 20-30 feet Width: 10-20 feet Exposure: Full Sun Drought Tolerant: Yes Deer Tolerant: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F Aloe barberae (Tree Aloe) - A large succulent that grows into a tree up to 30+ feet tall with upright growing thick mottled gray stems. The terminal branches hold rosettes of recurved, dark green leaves. In late winter, the rose-pink flowers in a tight inflorescence rise above the foliage. Plant in full sun. Drought tolerant. Hardy to about 25-30 degrees F although reportedly survives short durations down to 22 degrees F. It is a great tree for the succulent garden or near a pool and is good in large containers. This aloe has long been known as Aloe bainesii. Dyer, the man who originally described and named the species, published the name A. bainesii and A. barberae in the same paper, then published a note a few months later that united the two taxa and chose A. barberae as the name for the united species. The later note was overlooked until attention was recently drawn to it by Gideon Smith in a 1994 article in Bothalia and later in the "Guide to the Aloes of South Africa" which he co-authored with Ben-Erik Van Wyk in 1996. This plant was first discovered by Mary Elizabeth Barber, a plant collector in the former Transkei, who sent specimens of the plant and its flowers to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Dyer named it in her honor in 1874. Plants were also sent to Kew in 1873 by the explorer and painter Mr. Thomas Baines who collected it in Natal.  The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information or disagrees with what we have written.     [MORE INFO]