Aloe arborescens

Shrub succulent species. 2-3 m long stems, initially herbaceous, then lignified. Leaves 25-60 cm long by 2-7 cm broad, sub-triangular, light green or glaucous green in colour, with prickly thorns on the margin. Ramified inflorescences bearing dense racemes of tubular, pendulous, red or orange flowers with a yellow or green tip in bud. Flowering occurs in winter or spring. This species has a wide natural distribution in southern Africa, from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi south through eastern South Africa (Botswana, Swaziland, Northern Province, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Western and Eastern Cape ), and then westward in a strip along the coast almost to Cape Town. In the wild, it grows in thick bushes in a wide variety of habitats: in coastal forests at sea level up to high mountains (up to about 2800 metres), mainly montane grasslands between rocks and open evergreen forests. It can also grow on rock faces. It needs a sunny or semi-shaded position and well-drained soil. It can bear some short and sporadic frosts. Bare root plant with single or little branched stem.