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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow & Orange |
| Bloomtime: Winter |
| Synonyms: [Aloe sessiliflora] |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe spicata (Bottle-brush Aloe) Large aloe that grows up on a trunk as a shrub to 4 to 6 feet tall and can be solitary but more often clusters with a few 3 foot wide rosettes of long gracefully-recurved and relatively narrow leaves that gradually taper to a point. These leaves are deeply guttered on the upper surface and are a bright green color attractively infused with orange-pink to red tones, particularly near the margins, which also have small firm teeth. In mid to late winter appear the non-branching 3 foot long spikes, 3 to 5 to a rosette, with densely-packed sessile greenish-yellow colored flowers that appear to be yellow-orange because of the so-colored prominent exserted stamens. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil and irrigate only occasionally to infrequently (if at all) - the drier it is kept the redder it will be. Hardy to about 25 °F. A great large aloe for a hedge or hillside planting. It comes from along steep rocky slopes and cliffs from sea level to 5,600 feet in elevation from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was originally described by Linnaeus in 1781 with the specific epithet referencing its spike-shaped inflorescence with sessile flowers. Other common names include Bullocks Bottle-brush Aloe, Lemombo aloe and Spike-flowered Aloe. The plant later described as Aloe sessiliflora is now considered to be a synonym. Our plants from Jim Rose of Cal-Orchid, who grew it from seed obtained in South Africa.
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 spicata .
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