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Aloe 'Brown-Powys 21' - A stemless succulent that grows prolifically and offsets its small rosettes, which are only 6 to 8 inches wide and under 6 inches tall, to form wide dense patches with broad based short triangular leaves that are a deep blue-green color, heavily white spotted, and blushing a deep reddish brown in full sun. The offsets initially have leaves in 2 ranks (distichous) but form typical rounded rosettes with age. In winter to spring appear the orange red flowers on unbranched stalks rising no more than 1 foot above the foliage.
Plant in light shade or in full sun where the plant takes on the deepest reddish brown coloration. Irrigate occasionally to very little. Hardy to about 25 degrees F but can be damaged at temperatures below this but then rebound from below ground. This is a great ground cover aloe that can grow as a dense cover in and out of shade.
There apparently are at least 2 clones circulating in the trade under the name "Brown-Powys #21". The one we have is liberally spotted, while the other has only a few white spots on the leaves. The interesting name comes from a combination of the family names of aloe enthusiasts who lived and botanized in Tanzania, Kenya and southern Ethiopia, though it is not clear whether this plant was collected by the botanist Ann Powys and her previous husband, Ken Brown, a botanical artist, or Ann's father, Gilfrid Powys. There has been some suggestion that this plant is the same as Aloe congdonii, a plant described in 1994 by Susan Carter or perhaps a form of Aloe kilifiensis or Aloe lateritia. Brian Kemble at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, from where we got this plant, tells us that he has discussed these possibilities with the late John Lavranos, co-author of Aloes:The Definitive Guide, and Mr Lavronos told him that he suspected that this plant was a hybrid.
We first saw this plant growing at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in October 2011 and were given cuttings of it then. We sold this plant from 2012 until 2015, but discontinued it only because it did not sell well, likely because it is not outstandingly showy in flower and its virtues as an outstanding groundcover and its name were not well known. We likely will grow it again as it is a very useful groundcover plant for sun or shade. Since we have this aloe planted about in several locations in our nursery we can easily pick it up once again.
This information about Aloe 'Brown-Powys 21' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate 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 that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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