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Aloe mitriformis (Mitre Aloe) - A moderately fast growing sprawling aloe with thick long ground creeping branching stems to 6 feet long that have upturned rosettes of thick fleshy light blue-green colored wedge shaped 6 inch long leaves that have soft white teeth that darken to yellow and then brown as they age. In summer months appear the salmon-red flowers in capitate heads on a branched inflorescence that rises 2 feet above the leaves. This plant is more robust than the plant we continue to list as Aloe distans, though both are now considered subspecies of Aloe mitriformis (and some synonymize these with Aloe perfoliata).
Plant in full sun to light shade. Best in cooler coastal climates where it requires little or only occasional irrigation. This plant is drought tolerant and fire-retardant and frost hardy to the low 20's° F. An unusual ground cover succulent that will sprawl over open ground and dangle pendulously over a rock edge.
This plant is native to the Western Cape region and Cape of Good Hope in South Africa where is grows on flat rocky sandstone. The specific epithet means "like a mitre" in reference to the shape of the rosettes, particularly when drought stress that resemble a mitre or bishop's cap.
This information about Aloe mitriformis 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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