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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (Aloes) |
| Origin: Africa, East (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Variegated Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange |
| Bloomtime: Fall/Winter |
| Synonyms: [A. dumetorum] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: Clumping |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe ellenbeckii - A small low growing aloe that forms short clumps with many open rosettes of narrow but thick 9 inch long dark green leaves that have small white spots on upper and lower surfaces and tiny teeth along the margins. New leaves emerge nearly vertical and the arch over gracefully. In fall to mid-winter appear the 1 to 2 foot tall branched inflorescence of interesting orange-red flowers that have a round swollen base and green tips in bud that open to yellow from the bottom of the inflorescence up. Plant in full sun to light shade (blooms for us even in shade) in a well drained soil and irrigate occasionally - some say this species is easy to rot though we have not noted this. Though from a warmer climate this plant seems fairly hardy - we had a large older specimen of this species remain undamaged growing outdoors unprotected during the cold spell we had in January 2007 when temperatures dropped to 25 F. several nights in a row. A nice little plant for a small scale groundcover or as a potted specimen. This species is from Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya where it grows in sandy soils in deciduous bushlands. The specific epithet honors D. H. Ellenbeck, a Germna physician who collected plants during the Baron von Erlanger's expedition to East Africa in 1900-01. Our plants from a stockplant received from Stockton succulent collector Alice Waidhofer.
The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens in the Santa Barbara area. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information about this plant, even if they disagree with what we have written.
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