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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.
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. Though a relatively small plant, the inflorescences often occur in pairs or in triples, with up to 35 flowers on each raceme, making a very good and attractive showing .
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 hybrid involving Aloe thompsoniae.
This information about Aloe bellatula displayed on this web page is based on research we have conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations we have made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how our crops have performed in containers in the nursery field. Where appropriate, we will also incorporate comments that 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 this plant.
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