Aloe speciosa the aloe that turns it's head.

The size of the raceme is 43 cm long and 27 cm around.
That is not remarkable for this species but it is very pretty on
a young plant with a stem that is not over a meter high.

Photo above: The aloe in the foreground is Aloe gerstnerii.
Aloe speciosa starts off growing upright like any other aloe,
but it soon turns the rosette sideways facing north.

Aloe speciosa blooming in the Karoo. This aloe is a tree aloe,

these plants would roughly measure between 3 and

5 meter in hight. The record is 6 meter.

There is something nice and not so nice in all seasons.

Our winters are wet, but mild with brightly colored

wild flowers.

Welcome! new visitors to our blog. We are at home

in the south western province of South Africa.

Winter is in the middle of the year. Aloes recover

their full splendor very quickly once the rain starts.

This is Aloe rubroviolaceae (Yemen) a few weeks ago.


The brick is there to give an idea of the size.
Photo above was taken in March 2009
Photo below was taken in June 2009.

What a difference the rain makes!

Why not water the aloes year round? We have water

restrictions but that is not the main reason - aloes

must have their natural dry cycle. Aloes that are

watered and grow in shade tend to become soft.

Insects, snails, fungus and bacteria will quickly find

a spot to break the skin and damage - if not kill

- the plant. The leaves grow long and sloppy and

the flower stalk grows further apart which does

not show off so well. Note in the background.

The flower buds of Aloe sabaea.
Another gem from Yemen. I will show it another time.