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

 

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