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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange Red |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Synonyms: [A. subtuberculata, A. echinata] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: Clumping |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Aloe humilis (Spider Aloe) - A small Aloe that forms dense clusters of small 8 inch wide stemless rosettes with 4 inch long by 1/2 inch wide incurved traingular-shaped leaves that have long soft white marginal spines and a gray-green waxy surface covered with irregularly spaced bumps (tubercules). In late winter into spring appear the unbranched 1 foot tall flower spikes bearing about 20 pendulous 1 1/2 inch long red-orange flowers. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil. This Aloe is drought tolerant with little to no irrigation required and is best when sheltered from getting overly wet in winter. Hardy to the low 20°'s F. Aloe humilis comes from arid areas from Mosselbay in the east through the Little Karoo to Grahamstown in the west and north to Somerset East and Graaf-Reinett. It has gone under many different names including Aloe subtuberculata, Aloe suberecta, Aloe tuberculata, Aloe incurva, Aloe acuminata, Catevala humilis, Aloe perfoliata var. humilis and Aloe echinata and is similar to (when not in flower) and confused with the slightly larger and harder to grow Aloe longistyla. The specific name 'humilis' means "low growing", refering to the plants growth habit. Our plants from seed collected by Ruth Bancroft curator Brian Kemble in 2005 from Southeast of Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo of the Western Cape in South Africa.
The information about Aloe humilis displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include 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 we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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