A compact evergreen, succulent perennial with ornamental foliage arranged in a pronounced spiral pattern, the fleshy leaves have white to pale-green marginal spines and a single brown spine at the leaf tip. Tubular flowers borne on a branching spike in spring, can be variable in colour but are usually red with greenish-yellow tips
0.1-0.5 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow indoors in a container of peat-free, cacti potting compost, or peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added horticultural grit. Water moderately when in growth, very sparingly when dormant in winter. Apply a general liquid fertiliser monthly from May to August. Can be placed outdoors in summer, see aloe cultivation for further advice
Propagate by seed as soon as ripe, or propagate by separating offsets in spring or early summer. Root offsets in cactus potting compost
No pruning required
May be susceptible to scale insects and mealybugs
Generally disease-free