Aloe brevifolia
A compact stemless succulent forming rosettes of glaucous, toothed leaves to about 10 cm tall, with tubular red flowers carried in long racemes in autumn.
Common Names
Short-Leaved Aloe, Crocodile Plant, Kleinaalwyn, Blue Aloe, Dwarf Aloe
Summary
Short-leaf aloe is an evergreen succulent native to the Western Cape of South Africa. It forms compact rosettes of blue-green leaves with white teeth along the edges and underside; leaves may redden in bright sun; late-spring orange tubular flowers rise above the foliage; offsets readily form tight colonies, making it suitable as small groundcovers or decorative containers.
For cultivation, grow in sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils in full sun; water moderately when in growth and sparingly when dormant; drought-tolerant and deer resistant; propagate by offsets or seeds; typically disease-free; hardiness zones 8–11; garden uses include beds, borders, rock and succulent gardens, Mediterranean gardens, or decorative containers.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4-16 inches
Spread
8-16 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 8-11
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun to partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-draining soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
Tolerates all pH levels
Bloom Color
Orange
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Blue-green
Fall Foliage Color
Red, yellow, and orange
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Slow growth; spring and fall: growth spurt; summer and winter: slows or stops.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Mill.
- Publication
- Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 6 : n.º 8 (1771)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Subfamily
- Asphodeloideae
- Tribe
- Aloeae
- Genus
- Aloe
Inferior Taxa
Aloe brevifolia var. depressa Aloe brevifolia var. brevifolia