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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Yellow/Chartreuse Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red & Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Synonyms: Aloe cryptopoda var. lutescens] |
| Parentage: (Aloe wickensii x A. arborescens?) |
| Height: 4-5 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Aloe 'Carpinteria Gem' (Carpinteria Bicolored Aloe) - A clustering and branching shrub aloe to 4 to 5 feet tall by 6 to 8 feet wide with rosettes of gray-green long tapering leaves that are mostly held erect when young and arch over gracefully with age and have pale teeth along the margins. In late winter to mid spring appear the very attractive flowers in tall slender branched racemes - the flower buds are at first a dark orange-red and then turn to yellow as the flowers open from the bottom of the inflorescence up creating a distinct two toned effect. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil and water occasionally to very little. Hardy to at least 25 °F – undamaged in freeze of January 2007 with 3 nights in a row down to 25 °F. We were given this plant tentatively identified as Aloe lutescens, the Malapati Aloe, because it was more clustering than the similar Aloe wickensii but then we noted that it branched and grew upward in a manner similar to the Aloe arborescens. Numerous aloe growers have looked at this plant and agree that this is a very nice hybrid and likely a cross between these two species. Others have commented about large stands of this plant growing in the town of Carpinteria, just south of Santa Barbara, with one particularly nice stand that lines Cravens Lane above Foothill so in honor of this small seaside town (with the "world's safest beaches"!), we are calling this plant Aloe 'Carpinteria Gem'. Our thanks go out to John Bleck for providing us with our original stock on this plant and also Tom Cole, John Miller, Quinton Bean and Andy DeWitt who all shared their opinions on it.
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 'Carpinteria Gem' .
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