Monday 7 January 2019

Plant of the Month January 2019


Aloe arborescens (Candelabra aloe)

Family:  Aloeaceae
Origin: Temperate South Africa
Location: Temperate glasshouse
Accession: 1976




This species of aloe reaches 2-3m in height, with many rosettes of blue-green fleshy leaves with soft teeth running along their edges. Tall orange-red racemes of flowers, full of nectar, rise from the rosettes attracting butterflies, birds and bees in the cold winter months. It grows on rocky outcrops in its native South Africa and has been used to fence livestock enclosures. The succulent leaves contain a pulp that is known to soothe the skin, especially from burning and redness, and has many other medicinal uses.

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