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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: Uganda (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red |
| Bloomtime: Fall |
| Height: 1 foot |
| Width: Clumping |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe mubendiensis (Mubende Aloe) – A medium sized stemless aloe that suckers profusely to form large groups of dense compact 12inch wide rosettes of about 16 leaves that are about 1 foot long and 2 to 3 inches wide. The leaves are a dull gray-green color with a few scattered spots and light pink horny margins with widely spaced reddish brown teeth. In winter the leaves can often take on purple to orange-pink tones. In fall arise the 2 to 3 foot tall branching inflorescences bearing dark brick red flowers. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to infrequently. Has been reported hardy to around 25° F but we have not experienced temperatures this low since starting to grow this plant. It is an attractive low growing clustering aloe that has nice winter foliage color. In its natural habitat it has a restricted distribution from near Mubende, in the Toro District in western Uganda where it is most often found on isolated granite outcroppings, called inselbergs at 4,000 to 4,500 feet in elevation. The specific epithet comes from the location where it grows. It is a close relative to another Ugandan aloe, the larger Aloe labworana, which has longer leaves and yellow flowers with smaller floral bracts. Gilbert Reynolds considered this plant to be closely related to Aloe schweinfurthii, which makes some sense as he also considered Aloe labworana to be a variety of that species. We received our first stock plant of this great plant from Tom Cole, who operates Cold Springs Aloes in Montecito, California and co-authored Aloes of Uganda.
Information on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library, from online sources, as well as from observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery's garden and in other gardens where we have observed it. We also will incorporate comments received from others and welcome getting feedback of any kind from those who have additional information, particularly if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips would aid others in growing Aloe mubendiensis.
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