Aloe dorotheae was dark red from stress when I bought it. No stress for it here. The species was discovered near the south bank of the Pangani River in Tanzania and transferred as a live plant in 1890 to the Royal Botanic Garden in Berlin.
The small Aloe at lower right is A.
Aloe hemmingii is from Somalia and the flowers are pink. Mine has not yet flowered.
Aloe broomii, unhappy in that pot. It's in the ground now. I discovered the pot was packed solid with roots, even though I put it in that pot only a few months ago. I speculate this is one Aloe that puts out a large root system. Update: 2015 gall mite; removed.
Aloe deltoidontea 'Sparkler'. A beauty. Highly recommended.
Aloe 'Seventy Five Percent Off'. I have no idea what this one is--probably another ferox. It was 75% off and looked in dire need of care so I bought it. It was happy to be rescued. As I become a somewhat experienced gardener, more and more I leave the near-death bargains at the shop, but this one called very clearly to me, so I answered. Update 2016: this aloe has been so slow-growing I suspect it's not ferox after all.
Aloe krapohliana is from an extremely arid area of the Karoo. The flower is enormous in relation to the size of the plant. It usually always dies away from its native home, according to plantzafrika. I've had it over two years and have watered it exactly once. Whereupon it rapidly grew several new leaves! How can you not love that?
The recent additions: from top left, Aloe cryptoflora, A. castanea, A. ericacea, and A.
Aloe 'Grassy Lassie'. This was purported to bloom non-stop when it was first introduced. Wrong! I got it from a neighbor who was throwing hers out. It's one of those plants you have but don't know why.
Aloe cooperi. Not doing well. I've read several comments from the internet that all go something like this: "Had Aloe cooperi. It died." Hmm. Update: mine died, too.
Aloe sinkatana. This version has yellow flowers. Good, reliable, low clumper.
Aloe reitzii is a saga. I've had this plant for maybe six years, and it's only started growing in the past six months. It didn't like anything I offered. What it wanted, I finally discovered, was plentiful water. I had another, much larger reitzii given to me by a garden buddy--gall mite claimed that one.
Aloe congolensis, another recent acquisition. Too recent to have any opinion about.
This is a seedling. I was so surprised to find an Aloe seedling in the garden I kept it. Plain, but I like the toothy margins. A flower may give hints of who the parent was, but so far no flowers.
Aloe thraskii. This Aloe is touchy as Aloes in Southern California go--gardeners are warned not to let water sit in the leaves, (cover when it rains to prevent rot) as well as to shade it in extreme heat away from the immediate coast (the leaves sun burn). In nature, it grows right on the beach in South Africa, so it wants coastal living (don't we all?). When I first bought it, the stem was bent. I thought it would probably snap, but it hasn't. Growth has made the stem almost perfectly straight.
I'm absurdly proud of my A. capitata seedlings, fervently hoping they are selfs (pure capitata).
They are huge compared to March:
Only a few capitata flowers fertilized, and those at the tail end of the bloom, which often indicates self-fertilization. I'll know in about...ten years?
A. speciosa to finish up. This tree Aloe has extremely beautiful flowers. No, it has not bloomed yet. "Speciosa" means "showy", or "beautiful". I got this, along with Aloe castanea, at Annie's Annuals at last year's Fling.
Oh, almost forgot 'Silver Fox'. How many does that make? Twenty more?
The little nubbly bumpy hybrids are so popular, but except for 'Silver Fox', I skip them. They belong in pots, and you know what I do to plants in pots. I should be ashamed. Actually, I am.
Update: I forgot Aloe peglerae!
2014:
Such a good collection of aloes. So Jealous.
ReplyDeleteI'm struggling to think of any on my dream wish list that you are missing, Did I meantion jealous! What about aloe ramosissima. There are quite a few miniature aloes, which do not seem to be your thing, but aloe viper i would recommend and you could plant out.
'Viper' is cool, and it might be big enough not to get lost in the ground. They are so easy here, don't forget. You have much more of a challenge with frost and rain and grey weather.
DeleteLooking forward to seeing how they will all progress now that they're been unleashed to the the ground. Sparkler is a stunner even as a relatively small plant.
ReplyDeleteI will update as they grow.
DeleteWow, it just keeps getting better and better! You have the biggest collection of aloe species of anybody I know (not counting little toy hybrids).
ReplyDeleteAloe krapohliana: Wow, watered only once in two years? I assume you leave it out in the rain when it rains? My curiosity is peeked now. Translation: I want one :-).
Aloe 'Grassy Lassie': I had a couple. Major disappointment, like you said. Somehow they disappeared on their own.
Aloe sinkatana: Mine has two-tone flowers (red and yellow). Where did you get your all-yellow variety?
Aloe reitzii: I've had one in a large pot pot for years and it's been a steady grower (it's at least 2 ft across now). It does get regular drip irrigation though. No flowers yet. I've been tempted to plant it out but it sounds like it might be happier in a pot where I can give it all the water it wants.
This spring I added two Sunbird Aloes: 'Erik the Red' and 'Moonglow'. They're bred specifically for superior flowering performance so I have high hopes.
No, no rain at all. krapohliana is under patio cover, they are found partly shaded in nature and it seems to take mostly shade no problem. One watering. I think it's hilarious. I can give it my usual neglect and it doesn't even notice.
DeleteThe sinkatana was a gift from a gardening buddy. I don't know where it was purchased.
How are those sunbirds blooming? As advertised?
'Moonglow' was in bloom when I got it. The flowers aren't pure yellow but have an orange tinge. They lasted for a long time. 'Erik the Red' hasn't bloomed yet.
DeleteYou are rich with Aloes that's for sure. It's interesting to read your notes about what each one does, and does not, like. Makes me quite happy at my (comparably limited) success with aloes here in Oregon. I was instantly in lust after that little A. ericacea but then looking at images of it larger I'm not sure I care for it. Yours is at that adorable puppy stage.
ReplyDeleteYou always like the dangerous looking ones! :) Grown a little "fat" it is as pretty when larger.
DeleteSooo many beautiful Aloes. I seriously didn't know there were so many varieties. I actually have a few of these but didn't know they were aloes. (Hanging my head in shame for not paying attention to plant names and only buying them because I liked them) I adore Aloe deltoidontea 'Sparkler', would love to find that one to add to my already too large collection that has to be wintered over indoors
ReplyDeleteOver 500 species discovered, and counting! Not to mention hybrids. Who would have thought?
DeleteWe crown thee Queen of Aloes.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know the right song! "Let it grow! Let it grow!"
Deleteafter work I found myself at a nursery that had the variegated octopus agave and a beautiful thornless aloe I'd never seen before, pale almost silvery leaves, both the same price. I could only afford one. Yep, I went for the Aloe scobinifolia or Somalian aloe. With this heat and drought, I doubt I'll plant anything else again but agaves and aloes...So true about containers, which is how I killed off so many aloes, including peglerae. I've already planted the Somalian in the ground.
ReplyDeleteLooks like an elegant one.
DeleteOh, c'mon you know you'll plant other stuff!
Your aloes are all very beautiful and architectural, I really like the variation in the colours and markings. The little bird looks so sweet in the first image.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo ♡
The little hummingbird perches on the Aloe thraskii every morning to sip from and guard the nearby Salvia discolor. He patrols on a regular schedule.
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