Scientific Name
Aloe thraskii Baker
Common Name(s)
Coast Aloe, Dune Aloe, Strand Aloe
Synonym(s)
Aloe fraskii
Scientific Classification
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Etymology
The specific epithet "thraskii" (pronounced "THRAS-kee-eye") honors Mr. Thrask, of whom nothing besides his name is known.
Origin
Aloe thraskii is native to South Africa. It occurs in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, and only grows in almost pure sand, right at the beach margin, among low coastal vegetation or taller bushes.
Description
Aloe thraskii is a tree-like succulent with a simple, erect stem, gracefully recurved, densely rosulate leaves, and old, dried leaves that remain persistent at the base of the stem. It usually grows up to 6.6 feet (2 m) tall, but sometimes can reach 13.1 feet (4 m). The leaves are dull green to glaucous, deeply channeled, sometimes even touching the skirt of old, dried leaves around the stem. They can measure up to 5.25 feet (1.6 m) in length and 8.8 inches (22 cm) in width, gradually tapering to the apex, and have margins armed with small reddish deltoid teeth.
The buds are greenish to orange, while the open flowers are lemon yellow to pale orange, with greenish tips. The flowers can reach a length of 1.2 inches (3 cm) and appear in well-branched inflorescences with upright, broadly cylindrical racemes. The inflorescence in young plants consists of only 4 to 6 racemes, while in large, fully grown specimens, 3 to 4 racemes are produced simultaneously, each with 4 to 8 branches, resulting in a total of 15 to 25 racemes. The fruits are oblong-trigonous, markedly 3-angled capsules that can grow up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long and up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) wide. They are green, turning reddish-brown with age.
Aloe thraskii is similar and closely related to Aloe excelsa and Aloe rupestris, but can be distinguished by its strongly recurved leaves.
How to Grow and Care for Aloe thraskii
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25°F (-3.9°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Aloes are very forgiving plants. 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.
These succulents are not particularly fast-growing and will only rarely need repotting. However, in the spring, repot Aloes that are tipping over their pots or have ceased growing. Use a fast-draining potting mix with one-third sand or pebbles. If you are repotting a larger plant, you can divide the root ball. Some varieties of Aloe will send off offsets that can be potted independently.
Aloe plants need intense, bright light. Once acclimated, they can withstand summer temperatures. In the winter, provide bright light. It prefers warmer temperatures of 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C) but will survive down to 40°F (4.5°C). Feed with a succulent fertilizer only in the summer. Suspend feeding in the winter as the plant goes dormant.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Aloe.
Links
- Back to genus Aloe
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
