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Aloe is a genus containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe". The genus is native to Africa, and is common in South Africa's Cape Province, the mountains of tropical Africa, and neighbouring areas such as Madagascar, the Arabian peninsula, and the islands of Africa. Most Aloe species have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves. The leaves are often lance-shaped with a sharp apex and a spiny margin. Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, orange, pink or red, and are borne, densely clustered and pendant, at the apex of simple or branched, leafless stems.
There are not many aloes from the Cape that flower during summer, hence those that do are more sought after. Those of you who love gardening with bright reds, oranges and yellows will find this particular aloe quite irresistible. Aloe perfoliata is a true Cape mountain and winter rainfall species that has a lot more to offer than just pretty flowers.
USDA Zone - 9
Season to sow - Spring
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