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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: Yemen (Asia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Rose Pink |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Synonyms: [A. fleurentinorum, A edentata] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe fleurentiniorum (Yemeni Brown Aloe) - A stemless plant to 2 feet tall with rosettes to 2 to 3 feet wide thick recurving very dark olive green leaves that are moderately rough textured with nearly no marginal spines and often tinged reddish brown when grown in full sun. The leaves are sometimes slightly convex (bulging outward) or nearly flat on the upper surface but can become channeled towards the center (canaliculate) if water stressed and this is how they would be found in their natural habitat. Flowering with this species can occur nearly anytime of the year with 1 to 2 foot tall branched inflorescence holding reddish pink flowers. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to very little - quite drought tolerant and hardy to around 25 °F. This plant is naturally occurring growing on limestone and sandstone hills in Yemen Sana'a Province extending into Saudi Arabia where it is found on rocky slopes in Asir Province at 5,000 to 7,700 feet in elevation. It grows along the eastern rain-shadowed slopes and blooms after any significant precipitation. This plant was first described as Aloe fleurentinorum by John Lavranos and Len Newton in The Cactus and Succulent Society of American (CSSA) Journal 49:3 (May-Jun 1977) but was corrected to the current spelling in accordance with rules of the International Code of Nomenclature. A single specimen was first discovered in the Wadi Dhahr in Sana'a Province by John Lavranos in 1974 who returned to the area with Len Newton in 1976. Not only did they find more plants in the wild but discovered the species growing in the garden of their hosts, Jacky and Marine Fleurentin, and the species was named in honor of the Fleurentin's contributions to the study of Yemeni plants. This plant was at first thought to be a form or hybrid of the similar Aloe inermis, also from Yemen, but it does not have an overlapping range and has a stouter more erect and less branched inflorescence and leaves that are darker black green and rougher in texture than Aloe inermis and the later always has a channeled (canaliculate) upper leaf surface, even when growing in cultivation.
This information about Aloe fleurentiniorum displayed is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We will also note observations that we have made about it as it grows in the gardens in our nursery and those elsewhere, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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