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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Flower Color: Orange |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Synonyms: [A. "California Aloe", A. 'Blue Boy'] |
| Parentage: (A. humilis hybrid?) |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Aloe 'Blue Elf' - A vigorous tight-clumping aloe that grows to 18 inches tall by 2 feet wide with narrow upright gray-blue leaves that contrast well with spikes of orange flowers that appear mostly from early winter to early spring (January-April) but can often have a stray bloom spike anytime in the year. Plant in full sun or light shade - even grows well in deep shade where it is a bit greener, more prostrate and does not flower. This hardy aloe requires only occasional to very infrequent irrigation in Southern California and even grows well in full sun in desert heat. It has proven hardy to around 20° F. Great for mass plantings as a succulent groundcover, as a potted specimen or spotted into the rock or succulent garden - an excellent plant for attracting hummingbirds. This great long-blooming aloe hybrid may have been one of Edward C. Hummel's hybrids and is thought by some to have Aloe humilis as one parent but is not the same as the A. humilis hybrid called 'Ed Hummel' which is smaller and has spines on the upper and lower leaf faces. Aloe 'Blue Elf' has also been marketed as "California Aloe" and "Blue Boy" (not to be confused with the Kelly Griffin hybrid by the same name) and is one of our most popular landscape aloes. There also is another aloe circulating in California nurseries that goes by the name Aloe 'California' that is very similar but is a more robust plant and it is our belief that these two aloe are somewhat confused in the trade.
Information displayed on this page about Aloe 'Blue Elf' 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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