Tilt-head aloe

A tall, upright growing, solitary to branched aloe that reaches up to 6m in height. Its leaves are blue-green and have serrated, pale red leaf margins. The leaves can be used to dye wool a delicate pink colour. The large cylindrical flower heads display striking red buds that open up during springtime to reveal green-white and red-pink, tubular flowers. It is easily distinguished by the head of rosette leaves that are permanently tilted to the north in the southern hemisphere.

Planning

Difficulty

Easy

Flowering time

Spring, Winter

Fruiting time

Autumn

Harvesting

Seeds should be allowed to dry for at least 3 months after flowering before they are harvested.

Propagation

Seed

Best grown from seed treated with fungicide. Sow during spring or summer in a well-drained, sandy medium. Cover the seed with 2-3 mm of sand and water well. Germination is usually within 3-4 weeks.

Special features

Attracts birds

The flowers produce nectar that attracts sunbirds.

Attracts useful insects

The flowers produce nectar that attracts bees, butterflies and ants.

Geography

Origin

Swellendam in the Western Cape to the Kei River in the Eastern Cape

Natural climate

Subtropical thickets and dry river valleys

Environment

Light

Full Sun

Soil moisture

Dry

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil PH preference

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Frost hardiness

Tender

Uses

Ornamental

Being drought-resistant it is an ideal plant for the water-wise garden.

Fabric colouring

The leaves can be used to dye wool a delicate pink without the use of mordants (substances that set the dye on fabric).

Personality

Family

Asphodelaceae

Flower colour

, Pink, White, Green, Red

Scent

None

Problems

Generally not affected by diseases, but Aloe speciosa is occasionally prone to rust especially when grown in dense stands. It can be treated by spraying affected plants with copper-oxychloride.

Companion plants

Cape aloe

Aloe ferox

French Aloe

Aloe pluridens