Aloe (Aloe polyphylla)

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thistlesifter Vista, CA Jan 12, 2006

Aloe
Aloe polyphylla

This is one that requires very high maintenance in our area. we are 8 miles from pacific coast. This one can't tolerate hot weather!!

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wallaby1 Lincoln, United Kingdom(Zone 8a) Jan 13, 2006

Wow love the form!

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sterhill Atlanta, GA(Zone 7b) Jan 13, 2006

What a wonderful shape - good work!

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GRENTHUMBS West Warwick, RI(Zone 6b) Jan 13, 2006

talk about interest in the garden!
that is some very cool texture...

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deela51 Westwego, LA Feb 15, 2010

It's an incredibly beautiful plant! I took a picture like that of an opening pup on my sagopalm (cycad), from above, and it's gorgeous unfurling like that.
I was so disappointed to read that it can't tolerate heat, since we live in the New Orleans area less than a mile from the Mississippi river and only an hour or two from the Gulf of Mexico. --- not that I'd know where to find one anyway nor afford it!
Don't you think it might grow in the shade on a patio, where it's not QUITE as hot? I have other aloes that do beautifully on mine.
I wish nursery catalogs (et al) would not only list the "cold" zones, but also the heat zones!

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thistlesifter Vista, CA Feb 18, 2010

Hi deela,
This plant is one of the youngest of all aloe species. It is extinct in its natural habitat. It grew at the 7000+ elevation on Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa. Often in the winter it was covered with snow.

We live in a very mild climate that usually has highs in the summer in the mid-70's F up to the mid-80's with sea breezes from the NW prevaling over 330 days average each year.

But then there are days when the wind sweeps from the east. At least 3 or 4 days the wind from the east brings temps numbers to 100 +.

I can protect them for a single day at those days if there is time for them to recover for a few days. I have frequently grown them the size in the image, only to lose them in a few hours of blistering sun at noon with temps at 100+. I even used foggers to keep them below the max temp they can survive (around 2 or 3 hours above 90F. I always put sheer curtains over them with cooling mists.

last year I lost 10 of these that were three years old and spiraling nicely. With that, I said I won't try them again, not here in S. Calif coastal region. If they were easy to get mature, they wouldn't be so rare.

They are wondrous but fragile creations.

bob
thistlesifter

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CactusJordi El Cajon, CA Feb 18, 2010

Well, what Bob wrote regarding growing it in our warm area is correct. Though I know of well grown plants in LA area already. It is most important to keep its roots cool!

But its origin is not northeast Africa but South Africa it actually comes from the high Maluti Mountains of Lesotho. And Lesotho is an 'independent' kingdom within and in the east of the Republic of South Africa (RSA)

Jordi

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