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Aloe squarrosa (Socotran Aloe) - A small trailing aloe with smooth light green leaves that strongly recurve downwards and are heavily white spotted leaves . The leaves are at stem tips with the dead leaves falling off to expose the parts of the light colored stems. The summer flowers on a short unbranched inflorescence have yellowish buds with green tips that open a light apricot orange color with green tips.
Plant in full coastal to part sun in a well-draining soil and irrigate only occasionally. Protect from winter temperatures below 32° F - we have always greenhouse grown this plant in winter months.
Aloe squarrosa is endemic to the island of Socotra, Yemen where it is found growing on limestone cliff-faces and rocky areas. The specific epithet means "spreading" or "recurved" in reference to the leaves. This species is confused with Aloe juvenna, from Kenya. However, the more common Aloe juvenna has shorter, straight, non-recurved triangular leaves and grows long stems, with the leaves retained all along the stems. Our original stock plant of this taxa came to us from the Institute for Aloe Studies in 2012 as Aloe squarrosa IAS06-064c.
Information displayed on this page about Aloe squarrosa 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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