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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) |
| Origin: Ethiopia (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Synonyms: [Aloe aethiopica] |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: Spreading |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe elegans 'Orange' - A medium size solitary stemless aloe to 18 to 24 inches tall with open rosettes of upright fleshy green-gray colored leaves that are lance shaped with reddish teeth along the margins, particularly when plants are drought stressed. In late winter and early spring appear the conical heads of flowers on a few (2-4) branched inflorescence rising above the leaf tips. The flower color ranges from a pale yellow to orange-red and this selection, vegetatively produced, has pale mid-orange colored flowers. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil and irrigate infrequently. Has proven to be fairly hardy, handling short duration drops down to 25°F and more prolonged temperatures of 27°F. A charming and colorful species that is most closely related to the spotted Aloe sinkatana. It is native to northern Ethiopia north (Tigre Province) into Eritrea where it is very common on open stony slopes from 5,200 to 8,200 feet. This plant was described by the Italian botanist Agostino Todaro in 1882 from a plant grown from seed sent to him by the German botanist Wilhelm Schimper who collected it in the Tigray region around 1870 after settling in Ethipioa in 1836. It has also been known as Aloe aethiopica, Aloe abyssinica, A. vera var. aethiopica, A. schweinfurthii, A. percrassa var. saganeitiana, A. abyssinica var. peacockii and A. peacockii. The specific epithet refers to the overall elegant nature of this plant, particularly in reference to the attractive bright flower colors that range from yellow through orange to scarlet with all colors sometimes evident within a single population. Our plants and selected for color and vegetatively propagated from seedlings received in 2009 from the Institute of Aloe Studies as Aloe elegans IAS 09-40. We also grow a selected yellow form that we list as Aloe elegans 'Yellow'.
This description is based on our research and observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We also try to incorporate comments received from others and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Aloe elegans 'Orange'.
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