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Aloe acutissima (Blue Aloe) A fast growing shrub aloe to 3 feet tall with numerous upright slender stems topped with 6- to 10-inch-wide rosettes of narrow pale blue-green recurved leaves that have hints of pink-purple and red and margins bearing red-brown teeth - stress, both drought and cold, seems to bring out the most interesting colors. Growth spreads out from the center and with time can form a wide, somewhat wildly branching, shrub. The dull red-orange flowers, appearing in winter, are on unbranched thin spikes that only rise about a foot above the foliage.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil. Requires little irrigation and colors up better when kept dry. Hardy to around 25 °F. An attractive aloe with interesting foliage colors and winter flowers that does well in the ground or in larger pots.
Aloe acutissima grows up to 4000 feet in elevation close to Toliara near the south west coast of Madagascar to Fianarantsoa closer to the center of the island, where it grows on rocks and shallow soils. The specific epithet combines the Latin words 'acuti' meaning "pointed", "acute" or "sharp" with 'issima', a suffix connoting the extreme form of an adjective so that the name means "very acutely pointed" or "very sharp" in reference to the sharp triangular teeth on the leaf margins. We also grow the lower growing Aloe acutissima var. antanimorensis.
The information about Aloe acutissima displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include 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 we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
