🌱 Morphology

It is a solitary rosette Aloe, practically stemless, compact and very symmetrical. Its leaves are lanceolate, thick, rigid and erect, curving slightly inwards. They can reach about 60–90 cm in length and up to 15 cm in width. Their color varies between grayish-green, dark olive green, and bluish-green, with a surface that can acquire a slightly velvety or rough texture. The margins have triangular, pointed, dark reddish-brown teeth.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family: It is endemic to South Africa, mainly Limpopo and Mpumalanga. It lives in savanna and open scrubland areas, especially on rocky and exposed slopes. It is associated with well-drained and stony soils. It belongs to the family Asphodelaceae. The species was described by Pole-Evans in 1915 and was named in honor of the British horticulturist and collector John E. Wickens.

❄️ Temperature/USDA zones: USDA 9b–11 is recommended, although some horticultural sources place it from 9a. It can tolerate approximately −4 °C in dry conditions, but it is advisable to protect it from severe frosts and, above all, to prevent it from remaining wet during cold spells.

☀️ Lighting: During active growth, full sun is advised, with an approximate target of 18–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ DLI PAR. High light levels keep the rosette compact and promote the grayish-green coloration of the leaves. In Madrid, acclimated plants can be grown in full sun, paying special attention to young plants during their first summer exposures.

💧 Growth cycle and watering: It shows mainly summer or opportunistic growth, related to the summer rains of its native area, while in winter it flowers and should be kept drier. It is recommended to water abundantly during the active period and let the substrate dry completely before the next watering. During winter, water intake should be greatly reduced, especially when temperatures are low.

🌸 Flowering: Flowering occurs mainly in late winter, approximately between February and March in Mediterranean conditions. The inflorescences are tall, erect, and branched, reaching around 1.5–1.8 m, with several dense racemes. The buds are red-orange, and when they open, the flowers acquire an intense yellow, creating the characteristic red-yellow bicolour effect.

🌿 Nutrition: During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE Aloes, Haworthias & Co. is recommended. At the end of the growth period and before the winter phase, it is advisable to switch to Desert CHOICE Rest, progressively reducing nutrition and watering.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the specific Desert SOIL substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

13X13 cm pot