Aloe brevifolia (Short-leaved Aloe) - A rosette-forming succulent from South Africa with rosettes of gray leaves that build up on each other to form a clump about 1 foot tall. Each rosette gets to just over 3 inches wide, bearing broadly triangular thick pale gray leaves that have white spines along the margins and a few along the keel of the lower surface. In the late spring appear spikes of orange tubular flowers in un-branched spikes that rise 16 to 24 inches.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil. Irrigate only occasionally - this is a drought tolerant mediterranean climate plant. Has proven hardy to 25 degrees F but is not considered much cold hardier than this. This is a great small-scale groundcover aloe and was one of the first aloes to be successfully cultivated in Europe and received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 2002.
Aloe brevifolia has a restricted natural distribution on dry clay soil in mild winter rainfall areas near the coast and up to 500 feet in elevation in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Its natural habitat is critically endangered because of these area's transformation to agriculture. The quite appropriate specific epithet is from the Latin word 'brevis' meaning "short" and 'folious' meaning "leaf" in reference to the short leafs of this species. We are also building stock on the larger form of this plant called Aloe brevifolia var. depressa. The Afrikaner name is Kleinaalwyn. We also grow the variety Aloe brevifolia var. depressa which, contrary to what would assume from the varietal name, is actually a larger plant.
The information about Aloe brevifolia that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.
Please note that after 46 years in business, San Marcos Growers will be discontinuing nursery operations by the end of 2025 and the property will be developed for affordable housing.
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