Botanical name

Aloe speciosa

Other names

Tilt-head aloe; slaphoringaalwyn (Afrikaans)

Family

Asphodelaceae

Dimensions

A single-stemmed or branched aloe that may reach over 5 m in height

Description of stem

Covered from the rosette downward in dry leaves, but not quite to ground level

Description of leaves

The slender blue-green leaves are smooth, can be nearly 1 m long and have pink edges with very fine teeth; the leaves appear somewhat irregularly arranged in the rosettes, compared to other aloes; the rosette is usually tilted at an angle

Description of flowers

Several single racemes may arise from a rosette on a short peduncle; the flower buds are red, turning to greenish white upon opening, with red-brown stamens exserted conspicuously

Description of seed/fruit

Description of roots

Variation

Propagation and cultivation

Grows easily in warm areas

Tolerances

Somewhat frost-resistant

Uses

Ecological rarity

Common

Pests and diseases

Not attacked by snout-beetle

Other

Location

In rocky and bushy areas, along rivers

Distribution (SA provinces)

Western and Eastern Cape

Country

South Africa