|
|
[2nd Image]
|
 |
|
|
| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Salmon |
| Bloomtime: Fall/Winter |
| Synonyms: [Aloe saponaria] |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
|
|
|
|
Aloe maculata 'Monstrose' (Monster Soap Aloe) - A stemless plant that grows to 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide and suckers freely to form a good sized clump. The foliage is dark green at the tips with a reddish blush, while closer to the leaf base the color fades to a light green and is marked by faint white spots and the margins of the leaves are lined with brown teeth. In most respects this plant looks like the common soap aloe but in addition it has raised longitudinal ridges that run the length of the leaves on the upper surface and overall the plant appears a little more robust. The pale salmon-orange flowers appear in late summer in capitate heads on branched inflorescences over a long period. Plant in a well-drained soil in full sun where foliage color and flowering is best but grows well in part sun too. This drought tolerant plant needs little irrigation. Hardy to about 20 degrees F. The species was long called Aloe saponaria, a name based on the use of this plant for soap in its native South Africa. The current epithet 'maculata' meaning "spotted" is in reference to the white spots on the leaves. In "Aloes: The Definitive Guide" it is noted that the type locality of this wide-spread species is not known but it can be found growing in grasslands, scrub vegetation and rocky outcroppings from near the coast up into the Drakensberg Mountains from the Cape Peninsula east through the Cape Provinces into KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Our plant from the collection of Stockton succulent collector Alice Waidhofer whose tag indicates that she purchased the plant in 1998 from Natures Curiosity Shop.
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 maculata 'Monstrose' .
|
| |
|
|
|
