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Aloe juvenna (Tiger Tooth Aloe) - An attractive and unusual succulent with 1- to 2-foot-long stems that are at first erect but later arch over and are covered from the base with bright toothy-margined green leaves flecked with lighter green to white spots on inner and outer surfaces. The stems are densely stacked and tipped with a spiky tight rosette. When grown in full sun the leaves often take on reddish to brown tones. This plant suckers profusely to make a dense stand or ground cover and can trail downwards over rocks or walls. It does not flower regularly but when it does it is usually in mid to late summer and is an unbranched spike with orange-red flowers.
Plant in a well-drained soil in light shade to full sun, but red coloration best with bright light. Give regular to occasional water in summer and avoid overwatering in winter - tolerates winter rainfall if soil drains well and is great in containers of even a hanging basket. Has proven hardy in our garden to 25 F.
This polyploid plant comes from Kenya and has been in the past called Aloe zanzibarica and A. concinna though these names are also used as synonyms for the similar looking but slower growing Socotran species Aloe squarrosa, which has longer more recurved leaves and bare stems. Most plants sold in the trade as Aloe squarosa are likely to actually be Aloe juvenna. The name comes from Latinized English likely from the word juvenile and thought to originate from a misreading of a label that may have intended to mean that the plant was thought to be in a juvenile form. We also grow a plant that is presumed to be a hybrid of this species called Aloe 'Zanzibar'.
This information about Aloe juvenna 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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