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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aloeaceae (now Asphodeloideae) |
| Origin: Madagascar |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Variegated Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Coral |
| Bloomtime: Winter |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Aloe bellatula - A small stemless clustering aloe that forms dense clump of 5 to 6 inch long narrow, upright and flexible dark green leaves that turn a bronze color in the sun. The leaves are channeled on the upper side with all surfaces covered with rough bumps and white spots and the tiny soft teeth on the leaf margins also are more rough feeling than sharp. In winter appear the bright coral-red bell-shaped flowers with pale petal tips that hang downwards towards the end of 1 to 2 foot long usually unbranched inflorescences. The inflorescences often occur as a pairs or in triples with up to 35 flowers on each raceme, which can make a pretty good show. Plant in full coastal sun with some protection inland in summer in a well-drained soil. Keep relatively dry and avoid overwatering during winter - in our winter rain climate it is best in a particularly we drained location or in a pot that can be moved to protect from getting overly wet. Aloe bellatula is native to near the city of Fianarantsoa in the Itremo Mountains of Madagascar at around 5,000 feet in elevation where it grows on granite outcrops of mountain slopes. The specific epithet comes from the diminutive of the Latin word 'bellus' meaning "beautiful" so this plant was described as both small and beautiful. It is similar to Aloe perrieri, which some treat as a form of A. bellatula, but the form we have of A. bellatula is definitely a smaller plant than what we have from the Institute for Aloe Studies (IAS) as A. perrieri, who notes it to be about "three times larger than bellatula" - both are very nice fine textured aloes! There is also confusion regarding a white flowering form of this plant that appears to actually be Aloe albiflora or a hybrid of this species. Aloe bellatula is sometimes listed as a parent of Aloe 'Johnson's Hybrid', but others think this plant is more likely a Aloe thompsoniae hybrid.
The information about Aloe bellatula displayed on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources we consider reliable. We will also relate those observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and in other gardens that 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 who has additional information, particularly when they share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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