San Marcos Growers LogoSan Marcos Growers
New User
Wholesale Login
Enter Password
Home Products Purchase Gardens About Us Resources Contact Us
Nursery Closure
Search Utilities
Plant Database
Search Plant Name
Detail Search Avanced Search Go Button
Search by size, origins,
details, cultural needs
Website Search Search Website GO button
Search for any word
Site Map
Retail Locator
Plant Listings

PLANT TYPE
PLANT GEOGRAPHY
PLANT INDEX
ALL PLANT LIST
PLANT IMAGE INDEX
PLANT INTROS
SPECIALTY CROPS
NEW  2024 PLANTS

PRIME LIST
  for OCTOBER


Natives at San Marcos Growers
Succulents at San Marcos Growers
 Weather Station

 
Products > Aloe ferox
 
Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe
   
Image of Aloe ferox
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Succulent
Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae)
Origin: South Africa (Africa)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Orange Red
Bloomtime: Fall/Winter
Height: 6-8 feet
Width: 3-5 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Summer Dry: Yes
Deer Tolerant: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F
Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe) - A tall single-stemmed aloe to 6 to 9+ feet tall with a rosette of dull blue-green 2-3 foot long leaves. The leaf edges, and leaf surface on young plants, are adorned with reddish spines and the older leaves dry as a "petticoat" on the stem. In late fall to mid-winter appear the dark orange flowers with inner white petals that are held above the foliage in a large upright candelabra-like inflorescence with 5 to 8 branches. Plant in full sun and irrigate little to regularly - plants are known to tolerate very dry conditions but look best with occasion irrigation. The foliage on this plant is hardy to at least 20° F but the winter flowers can be damaged at 24° F. This plant makes a beautiful and dramatic specimen for the garden and is great for attracting nectar-feeding birds. This species has a wide distribution throughout the Cape Region of South Africa and occupies a wide range of habitats. Aloe ferox is nearly as famous as Aloe vera for its medicinal qualities - in parts of South Africa, the bitter yellow juice found just below the skin has been harvested for centuries for its laxative properties, the treatment of arthritis, for its healing properties and for use in cosmetics. Other common names are Red Aloe and Bitter Aloe. The specific epithet 'ferox' means "fierce" or "war-like" in reference to the spiny-edged leaves. Our plants grown from seed purchased d from B&T World Seeds in Aigues-Vives, France. 

This information about Aloe ferox 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.

 
  [MORE INFO]