General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Leaves: Evergreen
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Bi-Color: Red opening to yellow
Flower Time: Winter
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Provides winter interest
Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Hummingbirds
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Can handle transplanting
Other info: Sow seeds in sandy soil. Seeds germinate in a few weeks at temperatures between 68 and 75 degrees F. Seedlings need moist but well-drained soil.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Offsets
Other: Stems cut below a node root easily. Cut a stem that has gotten leggy, let it dry out for at least a few hours to form a seal on the cut surface. Place the cutting in rooting medium kept moist, but not wet, until roots form.
Pollinators: Birds
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil

Image
Common names
  • Malapati Aloe
  • Aloe
  • Tshipise-Aalwyn

Photo Gallery
Location: Baja California
Date: 2015-01-08
Monstrose raceme
Location: Baja California
Date: 2016-12-29
Location: My Garden in Fort Worth, TX
Date: 2020-02-15
Location: Baja California
Date: 2012-01-17
Location: Baja California
Date: 2015-01-25
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-01-17
Green tips and a color change upon anthesis
Location: Baja California
Date: 2019-02-10
Midwinter, getting a fair amount of shade

Date: 2008-07-26
Photo courtesy of: Martin Heigan

Date: 2007-07-22
Photo courtesy of: Martin Heigan

Date: 2007-07-21
Photo courtesy of: Martin Heigan

Date: 2007-07-22
Photo courtesy of: Martin Heigan
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Feb 18, 2016 2:00 PM concerning plant:
    Clumping aloe with upturned green leaves and abundant bicolored (red and yellow) flowers in winter. Named for the color change in the flowers when they open. From a summer rainfall area (northeastern South Africa near the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana). Said to grow in the shade of trees or shrubs in habitat.

    Similar in appearance to Aloe cryptopoda and A. wickensii (both usually solitary), which share the same upright posture with incurved leaves, nearly closed at the top and yellow to brown on the outside during stress and drought. Unlike lutescens, which is named for the color change to yellow when flowers open, these other aloes (sometimes grouped under cryptopoda) may also make all-red or all-yellow flowers. Racemes of lutescens tend to be taller than those of wickensii; other floral differences may be noted.

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