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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: Sudan (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Variegated Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange Red |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Synonyms: [A. sinkatana 'Brick House'] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe zubb 'Brick House' (Sudanese Red Aloe) - A compact plant to 2 feet tall that suckers prolifically to form tight clusters of upright narrow gray-green, sometimes red-tinged, leaves that have white blotchy spots and forward-pointing small teeth along the margins. In winter from December to March (and sometimes later) appear 2 foot tall, often unbranched, stalks with capitate clusters of brick-red to orange flowers that open from the bottom up with the flowers dangling downwards - yellow flowered forms seem to be the most common in cultivation but this selection has flowers that are a dark brick-orange color. Plant in full sun to light shade. Irrigate very little to only occasionally. Hardy to around 25F. We originally grew this plant as a selection of Aloe sinkatana that we made from seedlings from seed so labeled by Brian Kemble, curator of the Ruth Bancroft Garden. This seed came from a cultivated plant that originated in Malawi. It has come to light that most (if not all) of the Aloe sinkatana in cultivation is actually the recently described Aloe zubb - this is explained in an May-June 2015 issue of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America Journal by Tom McCoy & John Lavranos. Aloe zubb is a species restricted to the higher elevation fog zone at around 3,000 feet around Erkowit, Sudan while the true Aloe sinkatana comes from Sinkat at lower elevation that is hotter and drier. True Aloe sinkatana is a larger more solitary plant with upright unspotted leaves. While the specific epithet of Aloe sinkatana is a reference to this plants occurrence in Sinkat in the Sudan, that of Aloe zubb is a curious choice as it is an Arabic word for an erect male appendage, apparently chosen when the similarity of this shape to a newly emerging inflorescence of this species was noted. We offered this plant from 2009 until 2013, discontinuing it only because we were also growing a hybrid of this species called Aloe 'Rooikappie', which we felt was superior because of its longer blooming period a glossy foliage.
This information about Aloe zubb 'Brick House' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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