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[2nd Image]
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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: Spreading |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Aloe grandidentata (Dwarf Soap Aloe) - A small slow-growing, stemless cluster-forming aloe with 1 foot wide rosettes with attractive dark green leaves that are white-spotted on both upper and lower surfaces and with older leaf tips that often dry to an attractive membranous tan color. The 2 to 3 foot tall branching inflorescences in early spring have pinkish red tubular 1 inch long flowers held in dense conical racemes. The flowers are narrowest in the middle with the apex wider than the base. Plant in full to part sun in a well drained soil or container and water infrequently to not at all. Cold hardy to at least 20°F. This aloe does exceptionally well in dry conditions in our mediterranean climate gardens, eventually spreading to form a large grouping that when in flower is quite attractive. Aloe grandidentata is found in the dry arid interior of southern Africa, in southern Botswana and in the North West, Free State and Northern and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. It was first described by in 1822 by the German aristocratic and amateur botanist and succulent collector Joseph zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck (also known as Prince Salm-Dyck). The name Aloe comes from ancient Greek name aloe that was derived from the Arabian word 'alloch' that was used to describe the plant or its juice that was used as medicine. The specific epithet is from the Latin words 'grandis' meaning "large" and 'dentatus' meaning "toothed", translating to "with large teeth" in reference to the leaf margins but it has been pointed out that this name really is innapropriate name as the teeth are not really larger than in other species of maculate aloe group. Our plants are grown from plants received from the Institute for Aloe Studies (IAS) as Aloe grandidentata IAS08-011 in 2008.
This information about Aloe grandidentata 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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