Aloe rubroviolacea

Aloe rubroviolacea (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 60cm

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

Sub Family: Asphodeloideae

Aloe rubroviolacea is an evergreen succulent perennial with a rosette forming habit. Its blue/ green fleshy leaves are triangular with toothed margins, up to 30cm long, 4cm across at their base and arranged spirally. This plant produces a stem which allows the head of this plant to sprawl with new shoots emerging from its base. Its leaves become pink/ red during the winter months. Its red flowers appear on unbranched flower stalks which are up to 80cm tall.

Aloe rubroviolacea Crown (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Aloe rubroviolacea, commonly known as Arabian Aloe, is native to the mountainous regions of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. In its native habitat it grows on rocky slopes in mountainous regions.

The etymological root of the binomial name Aloe is derived from the Semetic alloeh a name for this genus. Rubroviolacea is derived from the Latin rubra meaning ‘red’ and violacea meaning ‘violet coloured’, in reference to its winter leaves.

The landscape architect may find Aloe rubroviolacea useful as a suitable specimen plant in a rock or desert garden setting. Its is also suitable for growing as a houseplant, suitable for bright conditions. Once established this plant is very drought tollerant.

Ecologically, Aloe rubroviolacea flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Aloe rubroviolacea Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Aloe rubroviolacea  prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes wet soils.

When maintaining Aloe rubroviolacea as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly, but sparingly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 28ºc, although it will tolerate a temperature below freezing. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. Cuttings may be taken from sprawling plants, placed in moist sand for a couple for weeks, during which period they will root.



Landscape Architecture

Aloe rivae

Aloe rivae (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 70cm

Eventual Spread: 70cm

Hardiness: 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

Sub Family: Asphodeloideae

Aloe rivae is an evergreen perennial with a rosette forming habit. Its mid green fleshy leaves are triangular with toothed margins, up to 50cm long, 8cm across at their base and arranged spirally. Its pale red flowers appear on branched flower stalks which are 60cm across and 60cm tall.

Aloe rivae Crown (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Aloe rivae, commonly known as Aloe, is native to east Africa including Kenya and Ethiopia. In its native habitat it grows in open wooded grassland on rocky slopes.

The etymological root of the binomial name Aloe is derived from the Semetic alloeh a name for this genus. Rivae is named after Domenico Riva (1856 – 1895), an Italian botanist.

The landscape architect may find Aloe rivae useful as a suitable specimen plant in a rock or desert garden setting. Its is also suitable for growing as a house plant, suitable for bright conditions.

Ecologically, Aloe rivae are of little value to UK wildlife.

Aloe rivae Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Aloe rivae prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining Aloe rivae as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 28ºc, although it will tolerate a temperature as low as near freezing. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. Cuttings may be taken from sprawling plants, placed in moist sand for a couple for weeks, during which period they will root.



Landscape Architecture

Aloe speciosa

Aloe speciosa (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 3m

Eventual Spread: 1.5m

Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

Sub Family: Asphodeloideae

Aloe speciosa Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Aloe speciosa is a slow growing evergreen perennial with an upright rosette forming habit, forming a single stem. Its grey/ green fleshy leaves are linear lanceolate with red toothed margins, up to 1m long and arranged spirally on a tilted orientation. This plant will slowly form an erect stem. Its orange/ red flowers are tubular, mature to green/ white, are up to 55mm long and appear as erect racemes which may be up to 50cm long.

Aloe speciosa, commonly known as Tilt Head Aloe, is native to south South Africa. In its native habitat it grows in dry river valleys and mountain slopes in dense thickets.

Aloe speciosa Flower (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Aloe is derived from the Semetic alloeh a name for this genus. Speciosa is from the Latin meaning ‘spectacular’.

The landscape architect may find Aloe speciosa useful as a suitable specimen plant in a rock or desert garden setting. Its is also suitable for growing as a house plant, suitable for bright conditions. Once established this plant is drought tollerant. Care should be taken when locating this plant due to the sharp teeth found on its leaf margins.

Ecologically, Aloe speciosa flowers are attractive to pollinating insects and Sunbirds.

Aloe speciosa Trunk (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Aloe speciosa prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining Aloe speciosa as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 28ºc, although it will tolerate a temperature as low as near freezing. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. Mealy bugs may attack this plant.



Landscape Architecture