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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: Tanzania (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange |
| Bloomtime: Winter |
| Synonyms: [Aloe harmsii] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe dorotheae (Sunset Aloe) A nicely colored low-growing aloe that suckers to form clumps of rosettes to 20 inches wide on short stems to 10 inches that lie flat to the ground. The stiff shiny leaves are colored greenish yellow to bright orange red often with some white spotting when young and stiff spines along the margins. In mid to late winter a 1 to 2 foot flower spike (usually unbranched) rises above the foliage with dark flower buds that have green at the tips and open to show salmon-orange colored flowers with greenish-yellow tipped petals. Plant in full sun to light shade (color much better in full sun) and water occasionally to very little. There are various reports on hardiness but it seems that this aloe should be listed as hardy no lower than 28°F and possibly slightly higher. We have had our plants undamaged by the January 2007 cold spell at temperatures down to 25°F but these plants were under a single covering of Agryl frost cloth, which can afford the plants up to 4°F of cold protection. These same plants were not damaged unprotected at 29°F. Geoff Stein (Palm Bob) reported on Dave's Garden website that his plants were severely damaged by prolonged (5 hours) at around 27°F. A very attractive aloe for a rock garden or in a container. Found originally near the south bank of the Pangani River in eastern Tanzania and transferred as a live plant in 1890 to the Royal Botanic Garden in Berlin where it was described by Alwin Berger, who noted that the name honored a Miss Dorthy Westhead of London. This location has since been disturbed by the cultivation of Sisal and no aloes have since been found at this location though this plant was later found in soil pockets at 2,000 to 2,500 feet at Kideliko Rock, also in the Pangani District of Tanzania. This plant is very similar to another Tanzanian species that we grow, Aloe bussei, but it blooms in the summer and fall.
This information about Aloe dorotheae 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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