Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil. In its natural habitat this plant receives little natural rainfall for months at a time so it should require very little irrigation in the cooler months but requires occasional summer irrigation to look its best. We have not had this plant outside for any extended cold periods but reports are that this plant is hardy to at least 25° F (USDA Zone 9b). Aloe cryptoflora comes from from granite slopes at 4,000 to 5,000 feet elevation in the mountainous Fianarantsoa province of southern Madagascar. It is similar to the smaller Aloe conifera and the larger Aloe betsilensis. The name Aloe comes from ancient Greek name aloe that was derived from the Arabian word 'alloch' that was used to describe the plant or its juice that was used as medicine and the specific epithet means "hidden flower" in reference to the flowers barely emerging from the surrounding bracts. Our plants for this unusual aloe were grown from seed received from Brian Kemble of the Ruth Bancroft garden in 2006. 

Information displayed on this page about Aloe cryptoflora is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will 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.