Aloe brevifolia | Short-leaved Aloe
€7,95
🌱 Morphology
A small, stemless Aloe that forms dense colonies through numerous offsets. Rosettes are compact, about 10–15 cm, with short, thick, broadly triangular leaves, grayish-green or bluish-gray. The upper surface is usually smooth and unspotted, while the lower surface may have small, soft spines. The margins are equipped with firm, whitish, triangular teeth. Its compact appearance and tendency to form large clumps are very distinctive features.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
A species of the Asphodelaceae family, endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is distributed from Botrivier and Bredasdorp to Swellendam, Riversdale, and Cape Agulhas. It inhabits rocky outcrops, slopes, and clay soils derived from shale, as well as coastal limestone areas, within renosterveld and strandveld communities. It lives from practically sea level up to about 150 m. It is listed as Endangered (EN) mainly due to agricultural transformation of its habitat and illegal collection.
❄️ Temperature
USDA 9b–11b. SANBI indicates that it does not tolerate temperatures below −4 °C for prolonged periods. For a potted plant in Madrid, we recommend keeping it above 5 °C, although it can withstand occasional episodes near 0 °C if it remains completely dry and protected from humidity and frost.
☀️ Lighting
During growth, 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR. It is a light-loving species and tolerates anything from bright semi-shade to full sun. Intense lighting keeps its rosettes compact and enhances its bluish tones. In Madrid, it should be progressively acclimated to direct sun.
💧 Growth cycle
Opportunistic, but adapted to a Mediterranean regime of winter rains. It can grow and take advantage of water during periods of moderate temperatures, slowing down with intense summer heat. In cultivation: water generously and allow the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. During the Madrid summer, especially with very high temperatures, reduce watering and ensure excellent ventilation.
🌸 Flowering
It produces one or two simple inflorescences, relatively tall for the size of the plant, with conical racemes of tubular flowers. In its habitat, it flowers mainly in October-November; in the northern hemisphere, cultivated in Mediterranean climates, it usually flowers approximately in May-June. The flowers are normally red or reddish-orange, although populations with yellow flowers also exist.
🌿 Nutrition
Fertilize during periods of active growth with Desert CHOICE® Aloes, Haworthia & Co., formulated to provide balanced nutrition for Aloe and other succulents, with particular importance given to calcium and potassium. Reduce or suspend fertilization during periods of very slow growth.
This is an inimitable xerophytic plant cultivated in Madrid in a technological square pot and with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:
S -> 9cm x 9cm
M-> 14cm x 14 cm
L->16cm x 16 cm
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The photo description specifies the plant's measurements, but this may also vary slightly because it is a living being! Each Desert CITY plant has unique characteristics.
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