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Aloe grandidentata (Dwarf Soap Aloe) - A small slow-growing, stemless cluster-forming aloe with 1-foot-wide rosettes of attractive dark green leaves that are white-spotted on both upper and lower surfaces and with older leaf tips that often dry to an attractive membranous tan color. The 2- to 3-foot-tall branching inflorescences in early spring have pinkish red tubular 1 inch long flowers held in dense conical racemes. The flowers are narrowest in the middle with the apex wider than the base.
Plant in full to part sun in a well-drained soil or container and water infrequently to not at all. It is cold hardy to at least 20°F and some clones have reportedly handled temperatures as low as 14°F in plantings at the Plant Delights Juniper Level Botanic Garden in North Carolina. This aloe does exceptionally well in dry conditions in our mediterranean climate gardens, eventually spreading to form a large grouping that when in flower is quite attractive.
Aloe grandidentata is found in the dry arid interior of southern Africa, in southern Botswana and in the North West, Free State and Northern and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, often as a lithophyte growing on rocks or in rocky soil. It was first described by in 1822 by the German aristocratic and amateur botanist and succulent collector Joseph zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck (also known as Prince Salm-Dyck). The name Aloe comes from ancient Greek name aloe that was derived from the Arabian word 'alloch' that was used to describe the plant or its juice that was used as medicine. The specific epithet is from the Latin words 'grandis' meaning "large" and 'dentatus' meaning "toothed", translating to "with large teeth" in reference to the leaf margins but it has been pointed out that this name really is somewhat inappropriate as the teeth are not really larger than those of other species of maculate aloe group.
Our plants sold were vegetatively propagated from plants received from the Institute for Aloe Studies (IAS) as Aloe grandidentata IAS08-011 in 2008.
Information displayed on this page about Aloe grandidentata is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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