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 displayed on this page about Aloe brevifolia is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We 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.