Aloe purpurea
An endemic Mauritian tall-stemmed, drought-tolerant succulent shrub in the Asphodelaceae with a rosette of slender recurved leaves and green-yellow flowers that turn orange or pink, thriving in bright direct sun on sandy, well-draining soil.
Summary
Native to Mauritius, Purple Aloe is a succulent shrub adapted to seasonally dry tropical biomes, with striking purple-tinged leaves forming a dense rosette of up to 20 leaves. Flowers appear on cylindrical racemes with green-yellow buds that open orange or pink. In cultivation, bright direct sunlight and minimal watering are preferred, with sandy, well-drained soil and a pH slightly acidic to neutral; repot every 2–3 years and fertilize sparingly with a balanced succulent fertilizer during the growing season. Propagation occurs via offsets or leaf cuttings, and pruning helps maintain shape and remove dead leaves; generally non-toxic to pets and humans.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
9 ft 10 in
Hardiness Zones
Zones 10
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun.
Soil Type
Sandy, well-draining soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained sandy soil
Soil pH
6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Bloom Color
Orange or Pink
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Dark green or slightly reddish with red margins, purple-tinged leaves
Fall Foliage Color
Purple
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Seasons of Interest
Spring
Propagation Methods
Division, leaf cuttings
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Lam.
- Publication
- Encycl. 1: 85 (1783)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Subfamily
- Asphodeloideae
- Tribe
- Aloeae
- Genus
- Aloe
Synonyms
Dracaena dentata Lomatophyllum rufocinctum Lomatophyllum marginatum Lomatophyllum borbonicum Lomatophyllum aloiflorum Phylloma rufocinctum Phylloma aloiflorum Aloe marginalis Aloe rufocincta Dracaena foetida Dracaena marginata Drakaina marginata Lomatophyllum purpureum Phylloma borbonicum Aloe marginata Lomatophyllum saundersii