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Aloe vaombe (Malagasy Tree Aloe) – A beautiful large unbranched succulent to 12 feet tall or more with large solitary rosettes up to 5 feet across of recurved long smooth green leaves that have whitish teeth. These leaves are cupped-shaped (canaliculate) in cross section and take on rich red tones in winter, making a wonderful foil for the fiery red flowers that are borne in erect branched racemes in mid-winter.
Plant in full sun and water occasionally to little once established, though plants grow much faster and more lushly with regular irrigation. Reportedly tolerant of most soil types and varied climates but not cold hardy much below 27 °F as evidenced by damage and survival stories reported around the Los Angeles area after the January 2007 cold spell – all our plants in the nursery were covered so we don't know if it could have survived exposed to the 25°F that we got 3 nights in a row during this period. This is a great centerpiece specimen for the near frost free garden with red foliage and flowers making a stunning combination in January. The flowers attract bees and birds to the garden.
Aloe vaombe comes from Southern Madagascar where it grows in dry thorny scrub on limestone soils. The specific epithet comes from the indigenous Malagasy name 'vahombre'. We have grown this great plant since acquiring our first stock plants from Rancho Soledad Nursery in May 2004.
The information about Aloe vaombe 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.
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