Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil. Irrigate only occasionally - this is a drought tolerant mediterranean climate plant. Has proven hardy to 25 degrees F but is not considered much cold hardier than this. This is a great small-scale groundcover aloe and was one of the first aloes to be successfully cultivated in Europe and received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 2002.

Aloe brevifolia has a restricted natural distribution on dry clay soil in mild winter rainfall areas near the coast and up to 500 feet in elevation in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Its natural habitat is critically endangered because of these area's transformation to agriculture. The quite appropriate specific epithet is from the Latin word 'brevis' meaning "short" and 'folious' meaning "leaf" in reference to the short leafs of this species. We are also building stock on the larger form of this plant called Aloe brevifolia var. depressa. The Afrikaner name is Kleinaalwyn. We also grow the variety Aloe brevifolia var. depressa which, contrary to what would assume from the varietal name, is actually a larger plant. 

The information about Aloe brevifolia displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.