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Aloe ferox "Candelabrum Form" (Cape Aloe) - A tall single-stemmed aloe to 6 to 9+ feet tall with a rosette of dull blue green 2-3 foot long leaves. The leaf edges, and leaf surface on young plants, are adorned with reddish spines and the older leaves dry as a "petticoat" on the stem. In late fall to mid-winter appear the bright red flowers with inner white petals that are held above the foliage in a large upright candelabra-like inflorescence with 5 to 8 branches.
Plant in full sun and irrigate little to regularly - plants are known to tolerate very dry conditions but look best with occasion irrigation. The foliage on this plant is hardy to at least 20° F but the winter flowers can be damaged at 24° F. This plant makes a beautiful and dramatic specimen for the garden and is great for attracting nectar-feeding birds. This species has a wide distribution throughout the Cape Region of South Africa and occupies a wide range of habitats.
Our plants are of the form that was previously known as Aloe candelabrum that comes from the southern Kwazulu-Natal. Taxonomists go back and forth on this plant with some believing the differences between this plant and typical Aloe ferox justifies separating it out as a separate species in general this candelabrum form has somewhat larger rosettes with the leaves that are more channeled and with the leaf tips bending slightly downward. In flower they often have a larger number of racemes (up to 12), and the central one is typically a little taller than the others forming a candelabrum like shape with flowers having white tips, while typical Aloe ferox usually has brown tips on the inner 3 tepals.
Aloe ferox is nearly as famous as Aloe vera for its medicinal qualities - in parts of South Africa, the bitter yellow juice found just below the skin has been harvested for centuries for its laxative properties, the treatment of arthritis, for its healing properties and for use in cosmetics. Other common names are Red Aloe and Bitter Aloe. The specific epithet 'ferox' means "fierce" or "war-like" in reference to the spiny-edged leaves. Our plants from seed collected by Silverhill Seed Company in South Africa.
Information displayed on this page about Aloe ferox "Candelabrum Form" is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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