Aloe acutissima var acutissima

[Geoff]

This is a great aloe for southern California... rapid-grower, nice pale turquoise coloration (and LOTS of other related colors, so common in the best Madagascan species), suckers to about three feet in height and tolerates decent frost down to at least 25F. This is the larger form of this plant (Aloe acutissima antamorensis is the smaller form). Flowers are rather simple multiple branched racemes of red to orangish-red in winter (usually starting in late fall and finishing in mid winter). They are NOT the attraction with this species- the foliage is! Very easy to grow from cuttings. Likes water all year round and not prone to rot. Full sun species for best color. From Madagascar.

showing nice colors in January, southern California

Aloe acutissima colors 12-11.JPG (196.16 KiB) Viewed 11375 times

mature colony in yard

Aloe acutissima colony from ground level 2-13.jpg (188.25 KiB) Viewed 11375 times

[Geoff]

examples of flowers in private garden, southern California

Aloe acutissima flower close shade 1-08.JPG (107.55 KiB) Viewed 11368 times

another winter shot

Aloe acutissima fully flowered 2-12.JPG (207.55 KiB) Viewed 11368 times

[Geoff]

more flowering shots

Aloe acutissima full flower 2-09.JPG (236.85 KiB) Viewed 11368 times

Aloe acutissima flowers farther still.JPG (157.76 KiB) Viewed 11368 times

[Geoff]

shots from various botanical gardens

Huntington Gardens, San Marino, California

Aloe acutissima Madagas Hunt Jan.JPG (249.71 KiB) Viewed 11369 times

Lotusland, Santa Barbara

Aloe acutissima LL.jpg (217.54 KiB) Viewed 11369 times

[Geoff]

more botanical garden shots

Los Angeles arboretum

Aloe acutissma larb flowering.jpg (279.39 KiB) Viewed 11369 times

Rancho Soledad nursery, Southern California

Aloe acutissima RS.JPG (275.26 KiB) Viewed 11369 times

[Geoff]

Aloe acutissima teeth.jpg (89.39 KiB) Viewed 11362 times