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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange Red |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Synonyms: (A. subtuberculata, A. echinata) |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: Clumping |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Aloe humilis (Spider Aloe) - A small Aloe that forms dense clusters of small 8 inch wide stemless rosettes with 4 inch long by 1/2 inch wide incurved traingular shaped leaves that have long soft white marginal spines and a gray-green waxy surface covered with irregularly spaced bumps (tubercules). In late winter into spring appear the unbranched 1 foot tall flower spikes bearing about 20 pendulous 1 1/2 inch long red-orange flowers. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well drained soil. This Aloe is drought tolerant with little to no irrigation required and is best when sheltered from getting overly wet in winter. Hardy to the low 20°'s F. Aloe humilis comes from arid areas from Mosselbay in the east through the Little Karoo to Grahamstown in the west and north to Somerset East and Graaf-Reinett. It has gone under many different names including Aloe subtuberculata, Aloe suberecta, Aloe tuberculata, Aloe incurva, Aloe acuminata, Catevala humilis, Aloe perfoliata var. humilis and Aloe echinata and is similiar and when not in flower is confused with the slightly larger and harder to grow Aloe longistyla. The specific name 'humilis' means 'low growing', refering to the plants growth habit. Our plants from seed collected by Ruth Bancroft curator Brian Kemble in 2005 from Southeast of Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo of the Western Cape in South Africa.
The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information or disagrees with what we have written.
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