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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Bloomtime: Winter |
| Height: 1 foot |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe melanacantha (Black-spined Aloe) - A slow growing nearly stemless rosette-forming succulent that is usually solitary or with only a few clustered ball-shaped rosettes that are about a foot tall and wide with narrow 6 to 8 inch long triangular rough-textured brownish-green colored leaves that blush red with drought stress and curve upwards and inwards towards the middle of the plant. The leaves are further distinctive with a single row of long spines along the margins and keel on the lower side of the leaf - these spines are yellow and soft on young leaves but blacken on older leaves. In winter a simple unbranched spike rises to about 3 feet with with red-orange flowers that fade to yellow. Plant in full sun in a well drained soil and irrigate infrequently - a drought tolerant plant that is prone to rot if it receives too much water or if soil does not drain well enough. Hardy to 25 °F. Makes an interesting and attractive container plant. Aloe melanacantha comes from arid parts of Namaqualand and Richtersveld north to southern Namibia, where it is found growing in rocky and sandy soils from 160 to 2,300 feet in elevation. The specific epithet comes from the Greek words 'melas' meaning "black" and 'akanthos' meaning "thorns" for the decorative thorn lining the margin and keel.
This information about Aloe melanacantha 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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