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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: Madagascar |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Variegated Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Coral |
| Bloomtime: Winter |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe bellatula - A small stemless clustering aloe that forms dense clump of 5 to 6 inch long narrow, upright and flexible dark green leaves that turn a bronze color in the sun. The leaves are channeled on the upper side with all surfaces covered with rough bumps and white spots and the tiny soft teeth on the leaf margins also are more rough feeling than sharp. In winter appear the bright coral-red bell-shaped flowers with pale petal tips that hang downwards towards the end of 1 to 2 foot long usually unbranched inflorescences. The inflorescences often occur as a pairs or in triples with up to 35 flowers on each raceme, which can make a pretty good show. Plant in full coastal sun with some protection inland in summer in a well-drained soil. Keep relatively dry and avoid overwatering during winter - in our winter rain climate it is best in a particularly we drained location or in a pot that can be moved to protect from getting overly wet. Aloe bellatula is native to near the city of Fianarantsoa in the Itremo Mountains of Madagascar at around 5,000 feet in elevation where it grows on granite outcrops of mountain slopes. The specific epithet comes from the diminutive of the Latin word 'bellus' meaning "beautiful" so this plant was described as both small and beautiful. It is similar to Aloe perrieri, which some treat as a form of A. bellatula, but the form we have of A. bellatula is definitely a smaller plant than what we have from the Institute for Aloe Studies (IAS) as A. perrieri, who notes it to be about "three times larger than bellatula" - both are very nice fine textured aloes! There is also confusion regarding a white flowering form of this plant that appears to actually be Aloe albiflora or a hybrid of this species. Aloe bellatula is sometimes listed as a parent of Aloe 'Johnson's Hybrid', but others think this plant is more likely a Aloe thompsoniae hybrid.
This information is based on research conducted about this plant in our nursery library and from reliable online sources. We also take into consideration observations of it in our nursery of crops, as well as of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens we have visited. We will incorporate comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if it includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Aloe bellatula. |
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