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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: Kenya (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red & Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: Clumping |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe lolwensis - Stemless rosette-forming plant to about 2 feet tall and suckering to form clumps, has erect to slightly spreading glossy mid-green broad-based 20 inch long lanceolate leaves with prominent brownish teeth well spaced along the leaf margin - leaves flush a unique reddish-brown color in winter. The inflorescence, which appears in mid summer, rises to 4 feet tall with several pale gray upright branches bearing upright gray-pink buds that reflex as they open with a coral-red tube, pale yellow petal lobes and yellow exerted stamens. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil. Regular to occasional irrigation. Little known in cultivation but the first plants grown in the San Francisco bay area withstood winter temperatures in the high 20's. It is from an equatorial area that receives low but year-round rainfall with little variation in seasonal temperatures and so it was with some skepticism that we thought this plant would do well in our cool wet-winter climate but it has grown very well and flowered regularly in our own garden since first planting it in 2010. This plant is found in grasslands in Kenya near Lake Victoria and on several islands (The type plant described from Rusinga Island) at 4000 to 5000 feet in elevation. It was only recently described and was likely included with Aloe mubendiensis from which it differs by having more numerous and longer, more glossy leaves and a taller inflorescence with coral-red flowers instead of the dark brick-red of Aloe mubendiensis. Our plants from seed distributed by John Miller of the Institute of Aloe Studies from his self-pollinated plant that he grew from seed collected on Zenze Island in Lake Victoria by Anne and Gilfred Powys, an explorer and rancher in Kenya. The specific epithet is in reference to Lake Victoria, locally called Nam Lolwe in the Luo language.
This information is based on research conducted about this plant in our nursery library and from reliable online sources. We also take into consideration observations of it in our nursery of crops, as well as of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens we have visited. We will incorporate comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if it includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Aloe lolwensis. |
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