Aloe bellatula

#1

This is one of the easier, smaller Aloes there are to grow (from Madagascar this one), as I seem to have a hard time keeping grass and other dinky aloes alive (probably all should live in pots in my care, but I still keep planting them out). This is an aggressively suckering, thin-leaved aloe speckled brown leaves and inky dinky, dull, closely spaced teeth. Flowers are red to pink and recur much of the year (though more so when it's wet out). This also seems to a popular species when it comes to hybridizing new inventions… probably because it is so hardy and nice and small.

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Shots of my plants

#2

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In inland southern California, this is a species that prefers some sun protection, and even performs fairly well in relatively deep shade. I have seen these grow in full sun, but they tend to have necrotic leaf tips, and look a lot sadder than protected plants. THe more sun, the browner the leaves get.