Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil. In its natural habitat this plant receives little natural rainfall for months at a time so it should require very little irrigation in the cooler months but requires occasional summer irrigation to look its best. We have not had this plant outside for any extended cold periods but reports are that this plant is hardy to at least 25° F (USDA Zone 9b). Aloe cryptoflora comes from from granite slopes at 4,000 to 5,000 feet elevation in the mountainous Fianarantsoa province of southern Madagascar. It is similar to the smaller Aloe conifera and the larger Aloe betsilensis. 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 and the specific epithet means "hidden flower" in reference to the flowers barely emerging from the surrounding bracts. Our plants for this unusual aloe were grown from seed received from Brian Kemble of the Ruth Bancroft garden in 2006. 

This information about Aloe cryptoflora 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.