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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. The specific epithet 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. It has been in the past called Aloe zanzibarica and Aloe concinna, though these names are also used as synonyms for the similar looking but slower growing Socotran species Aloe squarrosa, which is a more open plant with longer more recurved leaves and bare stems. Most plants sold in the trade as Aloe squarrosa are likely to actually be Aloe juvenna . We also grow a plant that is presumed to be a hybrid of this species called Aloe 'Zanzibar'. Most plants sold in the trade as Aloe squarrosa are likely to actually be Aloe juvenna or the hybrid Aloe 'Zanzibar'. We grew and sold this species from 2011 until 2018.
Information displayed on this page about Aloe juvenna is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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