You will be required to confirm that you agree to these terms before items can be sent. In purchasing, international buyers agree to assume the risk of arrival of all items. Fertilize once a year with a cactus fertilizer or half strength plant fertilizer. It is extremely frost hardy and can only be left outdoors in Zones 10-11. Once established, aloe enjoys full sun if it can be given. Fluorescent lights work well as a light source for starting seeds. A layer at the bottom of your container works well. Adding perlite or rocks to your soil is a good way to increase drainage so that rot does not occur. Germination can take several months, so be patient. Optimal germination is between 68-78 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your seeds on the surface and cover lightly with a thin layer of sand. Growing Information: A course, sandy soil mixture is best. They are ideal for rock gardens or as potted houseplants. The genus is native to Africa and its surrounding areas and has been historically used as a medicinal plant dating back to the Ancient Egyptians. Among the most popular succulents, aloe grows in rosettes that resemble agave. We are happy to have finally gotten a supply of these seeds for those who wish to try their (green-thumbed) hands at growing this awesome species.Īloe is a genus of over four hundred species. When they can be found, collectors gobble them up. Cultivation, and especially seed production can be tricky, and so seed stocks from nurseries tend to be rather limited. Finding seeds or live specimens of this gem can prove challenging because it is an endangered plant, and collection from the wild is prohibited. The stemless spirals of toothy leaves can twist in either direction, and plants typically grow together in tight clusters. But whereas Aloe Vera is valued for its medicinal properties, aloe polyphylla is coveted among succulent collectors for its striking spiraled leaf rosettes and vibrant red to pink flowers. Polyphylla is a relative of the common aloe vera. It does best in well drained soil an ideal mix would be 1 part potting soil to 1 part pumice rock or lava rock, with 25 % horticultural sand added.Aloe polyphylla is a coveted ornamental succulent from the Drakensberg Mountains of Southern Africa. Cool and damp, morning sun afternoon shade, never allow to dry out completely. Grow this Aloe as you would any Alpine plant. It does best in mild temperatures, with growth slowing or stopping when the temperature gets above 85 -90 degrees F. At about 2 years old the leaves begin to spiral either to the right or to the left when viewed from above.Īloe polyphylla comes from very high elevations, where the climate is cool, and nights are cooler. The leaves contain a considerable amount of water, so they are quite plump. The Spiral Aloe is a fast growing species that can reach its full size in 5 or 6 years. The tips usually become dark purplish brown and are quite sharp. There are soft white teeth along the margins of the leaf. Each greenish gray leaf has a broad base and narrows to a dark tip. Mature plants have five ranks of leaves which contain 15 to 30 leaves growing in either a clockwise or counterclockwise pattern. The most unusual feature of this aloe is the perfect spiral in which the leaves are arranged. Aloe Polyphylla aka the Spiral Aloe is quite simply stunningly beautiful The Spiral Aloe is one-of-a-kind perfectly UK hardy (given a few key hints). It does not occur naturally anywhere outside Lesotho with the exception of one record on the Lesotho border with the Free State. Aloe polyphylla is a rare and beautiful aloe from the high Maluti Mountains of Lesotho.
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