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Products > Aloe pratensis   Aloe pratensis - Rocky Meadow Aloe Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.     Habit and Cultural Information Category: Succulent Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) Origin: South Africa (Africa) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Peach Bloomtime: Winter/Spring Height: <1 foot Width: Clumping Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F Aloe pratensis (Rocky Meadow Aloe) - A small clustering aloe with 8 inch wide rosettes of upright gray leaves that have sharp pale reddish-brown spines along the leaf margins and white tubercles on the lower leaf surface. Each rosette can produce up to 4 unbranched flower spikes with white papery bracts and pale peach to yellow flowers, usually between early winter and mid spring. This aloe comes from the Eastern Cape Province and KwaZulu Natal in South Africa where it grows from sea level up to high elevations in the Drakensberg Mountians. The specific epithet 'pratensis' meaning "growing in a meadow" is unfortunate as this plant is more often found growing among and wedged between rocks. Plant in a well-drained soil in full coastal sun and light shade inland. This aloe is likely not for everyone as it is considered a more difficult aloe to grow. It should not be watered as temperatures cool in winter so for most mediterranean climate gardens this means protecting from natural rainfall and irrigating in summer. The Ruth Bancroft Garden has this plant growing out in the open on a well-drained mound. It is hardy to 19 F.  The information on this page is based on the research that we have conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from what we have found on reliable online sources, as well as from observations made of our crops of this plant growing in the nursery and of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Aloe pratensis.     [MORE INFO]