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[2nd Image]
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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: Arabian Peninsula (Asia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red |
| Bloomtime: Fall/Winter |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Aloe rubroviolacea (Arabian Aloe) - A beautiful plant with 2 foot wide rosettes of thick, blue-green leaves that emerge from heavy stems. Over time these stems elongate while new shoots emerge at their base, forming sprawling clumps to 6 feet wide by 3 feet tall. In winter, the foliage takes on pink tones, which is the reason for the specific epithet 'rubraviolacea' meaning "red-violet". Flowering commences in late fall (November) with a spike that is unbranched or only has 1 to 2 branches that are topped with 1 inch long waxy orange-red flowers. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil - in its natural habitat this plant grows pendant or semi-pendant on steep slopes but can tolerate level ground if soil is well draining. The plant is fairly hardy with foliage remaining undamaged down to 20° F and even resprouting from underground stems after colder temperatures but the winter flowers will freeze if temperatures drop much below 32°F. Protect from snails which can disfigure the attractive leaves. This aloe comes from steep and rocky areas above 7,000 feet elevation in the mountains of Yemen and Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula. We first received this plant from the late Leo Price at his Westside Nursery in Santa Barbara and began selling it in 2005. The second image of this plant on our website courtesy of Santa Barbara landscape designer Pat Brodie.
Information displayed on this page about Aloe rubroviolacea is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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