€7,95

🌱 Morphology

Hemming's Aloe (Aloe hemmingii Reynolds & P.R.O.Bally), also commercially known as Mosaic Aloe. It is a small, usually stemless Aloe that forms a compact rosette about 20–30 cm in diameter and occasionally small clumps. Its leaves are fleshy, narrow, and lanceolate, glossy dark green, decorated with numerous white or pale green spots and elongated streaks that give it its characteristic mosaic appearance. The margins have relatively prominent, dark brown triangular teeth.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family

It is endemic to northwestern Somalia, where it grows in mountainous areas at around 1,200 m, on rocky soils and among dry scrub. It belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. Kew currently considers it an accepted species. It is closely related to and can be confused with Aloe somaliensis, but A. hemmingii is usually smaller and has simple or sparsely branched inflorescences.

❄️ Temperature

USDA 9b–11b. Although some sources indicate tolerances close to -4 °C in dry conditions, for a potted plant we recommend keeping it above 5 °C, especially with ambient humidity or wet substrate. It can tolerate temperatures near 0 °C for short periods if completely dry and protected, but it is not a species for regular frosts.

☀️ Lighting

During growth, 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR. It needs a lot of light to keep the rosette compact and develop its leaf coloration. In Madrid, it should be progressively acclimated to direct sun and may benefit from protection from the most intense summer afternoon sun.

💧 Growth cycle

Opportunistic, rather than strictly winter or summer. In its mountainous and dry habitat, it responds to favorable periods of temperature and water availability. In cultivation, it can remain active for much of the year, although growth slows with extreme cold or heat. Water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before the next watering; significantly reduce water during cold periods or when the plant remains inactive.

🌸 Flowering

It produces a simple, occasionally sparsely branched inflorescence, about 40–50 cm tall, with a relatively loose cluster of hanging pink to reddish-pink flowers. In cultivation, it can flower several times a year; flowering has been recorded in spring and also at other times. As a reference for Madrid, April–May is a good indicative time, although it should not be considered a rigid date.

🌿 Nutrition

Fertilize during growth periods with Desert CHOICE® Aloes, Haworthia & Co., especially suitable for its balanced contribution and its calcium and potassium content. Reduce or suspend fertilization during periods of cold, extreme heat, or dormancy.

This is an inimitable xerophyte cultivated in Madrid in a technological square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

* 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 these may also vary slightly, because it is a living being! Each Desert CITY plant has unique characteristics.

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