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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 3-4 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Aloe reitzii (Reitz's Aloe) - A robust stemless plant, usually with a single rosette to 3 feet tall, with long relatively broad silvery blue-green leaves with reddish teeth along the margins. In summer appears the spectacular inflorescence that branches near its base (2 to 6 times) with each stem becoming a vertical spike rising well above the foliage and holding dark red to orange-red down-curved flowers that lie flat against the stems with the oldest flowers turning yellow at the tips starting from the bottom of the spike. Young plants may produce only one raceme but older plants can produce multiple racemes, further enhancing a spectacular sight. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate rarely to occasionally. Acccording to Brian Kemble this plant has proven hardy in cultivation at the Ruth Bancroft Garden down to 20F. A great plant for the dry garden or as a container specimen though seed grown plants can take up to 7 years to mature and begin blooming. It is unusual because of its downturned flowers and because it blooms in summer, while most other Aloes are winter blooming. This plant has a restricted distribution in a very small area on rocky slopes in the grasslands near the Belfast district of Mpumalanga in northern KwaZulu-Natal. There is also a winter-blooming form of this plant called Aloe reitzii var. vernalis that comes from The Vryheid District to the north. Gilbert Reynolds named this plant in 1943 to honor Francis William Reitz, then the South African Minister of Agriculture and nephew of the president of the Orange Free State, with whom he shared the same name.
This description is based on our research and observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We will also incorporate comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information about this plant, in particular if this information is contrary to what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Aloe reitzii.
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