Aloe arborescens
candelabra aloe
A bushy, evergreen, multi-headed, succulent shrub to 4m tall. Stems are topped by rosettes of long, slender, curved, blue-green leaves with toothed margins. Racemes of tubular red flowers are borne from late winter into spring
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Red | Blue Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue Green | |||
| Autumn | Blue Green | |||
| Winter | Red | Blue Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H1BBotanical details
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Ingestion may cause severe discomfort. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling
- Genus
Aloe can be mat-forming or shrubby evergreen perennials, with rosettes of fleshy leaves and small tubular flowers in racemes or panicles
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Southern Africa
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow under glass in a loam-based potting compost with added extra grit. Water moderately when in growth; very sparingly when dormant. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 2 or 3 times in the growing season. Grow outdoors in frost-free areas in a well-drained soil in full sun
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown with heat as soon as ripe or from offsets in late spring or early summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Sub-tropical
- Architectural
Pruning
None required
Pests
Can get scale insects and mealybugs
Diseases
Generally trouble free
Get involved
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