Scientific Name
Aloe suprafoliata Pole-Evans
Common Name(s)
Book Aloe, Book-leaved Aloe, Mustache Aloe
Scientific Classification
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Origin
Aloe suprafoliata is native to South Africa (Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal) and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). Usually, it occurs in cracks in rock or near sheer cliffs in montane grassland.
Description
Aloe suprafoliata is a usually stemless or short-stemmed succulent with a unique growth habit that changes as it ages. The leaves are arranged in two opposite rows until the first or second flowering, becoming spirally twisted and always in a dense rosette in mature specimens. They are bluish-green to bluish-grey near the base to reddish-brown near the apex. The leaves are lance-shaped with margins armed with deltoid, sometimes bifid reddish-brown teeth, and can grow up to 16 inches (40 cm) long and 2.8 inches (7 cm) wide.
Inflorescences are simple, usually 2 to 3 from a rosette, and can reach up to 3.3 feet (1 m) in height. The flowers are brilliant pink, measure up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, and appear in conical racemes in winter. The racemes can reach up to 12 inches (25 cm) in length and 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Aloe is a very forgiving plant. However, as with all succulents, Aloe must never be allowed to sit in stagnant water, and the plant should be carefully monitored to watch for signs of overwatering. Water generously in the summer and nearly cease watering in the winter. Do not let water stand in the rosettes.
Aloes are not particularly fast-growing and will only rarely need repotting. Repot the plants tipping over their pots or have ceased growing in the spring. Use a fast-draining potting mix with one-third of sand or pebbles. When repotting a larger plant, dividing the root ball carefully is possible. Some kinds of Aloe will send off off-sets that can be potted independently.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Aloe.
Hybrids
Links
- Back to genus Aloe
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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