Botanical name |
Aloe brevifolia |
Other names |
Kleinaalwyn (Afrikaans) |
Family |
Asphodelaceae |
Dimensions |
A small, stemless aloe tending to form clumps of about 10 neat and compact rosettes (about 15 cm in diameter) through multiple offshoots; the plant in flower may exceed 30 cm in height; sometimes referred to as a dwarf aloe |
Description of stem |
Absent |
Description of leaves |
Light green, grey-green to blue-green with light coloured marginal teeth and pink leaf edges; some scattered spines and white spots on the outer (lower) surface or in a keel row |
Description of flowers |
Single racemes with red or orange flowers that emerge from prominent bracts during the bud phase; buds tend to cling vertically to the stem until they lose their initial green colouring; flowering occurs during spring, but may in cultivation flower for much longer, sometimes almost all the year round |
Desciption of seed/fruit |
|
Description of roots |
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Variation |
Differences are reported between the specimens originating from the Swellendam and Caledon areas in terms of rosette size and spots on leaves; the variations brevifolia, depressa and postgenita are reported |
Propagation and cultivation |
Well-drained soil in half to full sunlight; easy to transplant young offshoots or to grow from seed |
Tolerances |
|
Uses |
Garden plant, sometimes in clumps as a ground cover outside or in a pot as a houseplant (in good light, preferably sun) |
Ecological rarity |
Not threatened |
Pests and diseases |
|
Other |
This aloe tends to hybridise readily with several other species; comments have been found relating to the specimens in nature being more variable than the commonly multiplied garden ones |
Location |
Clay soil and stony areas on hillsides |
Distribution (SA provinces) |
Western Cape |
Country |
South Africa |