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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange Red |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Fall |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Aloe 'Cynthia Giddy' - A medium-sized aloe that clumps to form numerous rosettes to 2 feet tall with dark green lightly white-spotted leaves that have bronze to red highlights in the fall. Starting as early as in late winter appear the branched inflorescences of vibrant orange-red flowers that rise well above the foliage. Flowering peaks in the summer but we have had plants in flower through fall to as late as early December. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil and water occasionally to very little. This plant has proven hardy to 25 F in our garden without damage. Aloe 'Cynthia Giddy' has long been in circulation in the U.S.A. and with its clean looking foliage and attractive flowers over a long period, it has long been one our favorite and most popular aloes. Though the name honors the late Cynthia Giddy (1933-1998), who was a South African conservationist, horticulturist and maintained Umlaas Nursery in Natal, South Africa, we have never determined whether this plant originally was actually was bred by her. Some claim that this plant originated at Rancho Soledad Nursery in Rancho Santa Fe, California, but it seems more likely that it was an unnamed original plant from Cynthia Giddy that they named in her honor. In 2005, when researching this plant's origins, we were told by Aloe hybridizer Kelly Griffin, then at Rancho Soledad Nursery, that he speculated it to be a Aloe lateritia cross with A. cameronii, but noted that since Cynthia Giddy was no longer alive, this could not be verified. This plant is sometimes confused with the spectacular but smaller Aloe 'Rooikappie', a plant that Cynthia Giddy did hybridize and introduce- both plants add color into the landscape for many months. We began growing this great plant in 2004 after purchasing stock plants from Rancho Soledad Nursery.
The information about Aloe 'Cynthia Giddy' displayed on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources we consider reliable. We will also relate those observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and in other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has additional information, particularly when they share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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