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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 6-12 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Aloe ciliaris hybrid (Groundcover Aloe) - Long semi-woody stems have flowers only at the terminal ends of the branches. A sheath holds the leaves to the stem and the leaves are armed with cilia, or soft white teeth. More robust in all respects than the species and lies flat or mounds up to 2 feet tall rather than climbing like Aloe ciliaris. Scarlet-red inflorescences bloom throughout the year. Seems more tolerant to cold than the species and has been undamaged by winter temperatures of 20 - 25 degrees F. There is difficulty in determining the parentage of this plant as the plant it most resembles, Aloe ciliaris, is a hexaploid with 42 chromosomes where all other South African aloes are diploids with 14. There are no known natural hybrids of Aloe ciliaris in the wild but this is a common plant in old gardens in Santa Barbara. In an interesting twist of nomenclature a recent article in the Journal >i>Phytotaxa 76 (1): 7–14 (2013), titled "A revised generic classification for Aloe (Xanthorrhoeaceae subfam. Asphodeloideae)" proposes that this plant actually be taken out of the genus aloe and given the name Aloiampelos ciliaris (Haw.) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm., comb. nov. var. ciliaris. The other scrambling aloes (Aloe commixta, A. gracilis, A. juddii, A. striatula and A. tenuior) be also put in the genus Aloiampelos, all of the tree aloes (Aloe barberae, A. dichotoma, A. eminens, A. pillansii, A. ramosissima and A. tongaensis ) be placed in the genus Aloidendron and that Aloe plicatilis, the popular Fan Aloe, to be renamed Kumara disticha, a name that was used to described it by the German botanist Friedrich Kasimir Medikus in 1786. Until such time as this name change gets wider recognition we continue to call this plant by its original name.
This description of this plant is based on our research and our observations of it growing at the nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens. We always appreciate receiving feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or have additional cultural tips that would aid others growing Aloe ciliaris hybrid .
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