Scientific Name
Aloiampelos striatula (Haw.) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm.
Common Name(s)
Coral Aloe, Hardy Aloe, Striped-stemmed Aloe
Synonym(s)
Aloe striatula, Aloe striatula var. striatula, Aloiampelos striatula var. striatula
Scientific Classification
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloiampelos
Description
Aloiampelos striatula, formerly known as Aloe striatula, is a robust, rambling succulent with long, slender stems and dark green, strongly recurved, widely spaced leaves with numerous small white teeth along the margins. It grows up to 6.7 feet (2 m) tall, forming a large shrub.
The flowers are usually tubular and range from yellow to orange or red. They appear throughout the summer in densely-flowered racemes on unbranched up to 16 inches (40 cm) tall stalks.
This species is similar to Aloiampelos commixta but is easily distinguished by the dark green stripes on its stems and leaf sheaths and by its thin, recurved leaves.
Origin
Aloiampelos striatula is native to South Africa. It mainly grows in the mountains of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 8b to 11b: from 15 °F (−9.4 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Due to their hardiness and the wide range of flower colors, these slender succulents have become popular ornamental plants in South African gardens. The commoner species (such as, the more widespread Aloes of the Eastern Cape) are also increasingly grown in gardens overseas.
Climbing Aloes require a sunny, well-drained position and are particularly suitable for rockeries. The taller, climbing species are commonly planted along fences and boundaries, growing through the surrounding foliage. However, the lower, rambling species are better suited for rockeries, slopes, or terraces, which they will naturally cascade down over.
They can easily be propagated by taking cuttings as well as by seed. Climbing Aloes generally have both male and female flowers on each plant, but an individual plant is usually not self-fertile by itself. However, some species are also inter-fertile and can thus form hybrids.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Climbing Aloes.
Links
- Back to genus Aloiampelos
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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