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Aloe 'Pandan' (Screw Pine Aloe) - An unusual and attractive small tree aloe that likely will reach 10 feet or more with full rosettes of 2 to 3 foot long narrow smooth mid-green leaves that are strongly channeled (caniculate) on the upper surface and have only tiny well-spaced teeth along the leaf margin. In mid fall appear the branching inflorescence that rises 12 to 18 inches above the foliage bearing very attractive dark salmon-pink flowers.
Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to infrequently. Ultimate hardiness is not known but judging by this hybrid's parentage and the coldest years we have had it we feel it likely to be hardy to 25-30° F.
Aloe 'Pandan' is a hybrid between the large tree aloe, Aloe barberae, and the fan aloe, Aloe plicatilis, both plants that we also grow. Our understanding is that this cross was made by Ronald Regehr of Cactus Canyon Nursery in Vista California.
The most recent nomenclatural changes have placed the two species involved in this cross in different genera as Aloidendron barberae for the tree aloe and Kumara disticha for the fan aloe, making this plant technically an intergeneric hybrid. At this time we continue to list all of the species that have been segregated into other genera still as Aloe. The name 'Pandan' was coined by Jeff Chemnick of Aloes in Wonderland, from whose garden we got our cuttings of this unusual plant that has some resemblance to a Screw Pine, Pandanus utilis.
This information about Aloe 'Pandan' 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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