Aloe bulbillifera var. paulianae - A solitary stemless rosette forming plant with 2 foot long bright green flattened and ascending lanceolate leaves that have evenly toothed margins of the same color that look like they were cut with pinking shears. In winter appear the 5- to 7-foot-long wand-like arching inflorescences that branch near the ends bearing open racemes of yellow tipped orange flowers and having small plantlets (bulbils) at the base of each inflorescence branch.
Plant in full coastal sun to shade in a well-drained soil and water occasionally. Though from a more tropical location, this plant has been hardy to temperatures around 25° F. While fairly attractive, this plants main attribute is that it is the only aloe we know of that produced bulbils in its inflorescence and this makes it a "Must Have" for aloe collectors.
This plant inhabits the dense rain forests of the Analamaitso Forest and moutainous Sambirano region from 1,000 to 2,600 feet of elevation in the Mahajanga Province in northwestern Madagascar. The specific epithet is from the Latin words 'bulbilla' meaning "small bulb" and '-fer' maning to bear in reference to the bulbils that develop. The varietal name honors Liane Paulian, wife of Dr. Renaud Paulian, the deputy director of the Institut Scientifique de Madagascar, who first collected this plant. This variety paulianae differs only from the species by having bulbils arising only on the main flower peduncle and not the side branches. We also have a form that produces bulbils on all parts of the inflorescence, so not sure what to call it. We thank horticulturist and one time Burbank City Arborist Glen Williams for sharing bulbils from his plant in 2014 and have sold this curious plant since 2017.
The information about Aloe bulbillifera var. paulianae 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. |