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Aloe

Aloes are succulents that earn their place twice: bold rosettes of fleshy leaves all year, then tall spikes of orange, red, pink or yellow flowers through the cooler months, when nectar feeding birds need them most. This range runs from small clumping hybrids for pots and borders, through aloe vera for the kitchen windowsill, to the tree aloe, a sculptural feature that grows to 8m. All want sun and drainage and very little water. Every plant is delivered Australia wide.

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How to choose an aloe

Start with size. The flowering hybrids stay under a metre and are bred to bloom hard: Mighty Sunset reaches about 70cm with bicolour spikes, Supreme Orange about 60cm, and Pink Blush and Christmas Carol are compact rosettes around 40cm with patterned leaves, ideal in pots. Aloe vera forms a 60cm clump of soft grey green leaves. For a feature, the fan aloe carries its leaves in flat fans on a branching shrub to 1.5m, and the tree aloe (Aloe barberae) grows a smooth grey trunk and a rounded crown to 8m. The spiral aloe is a collector's plant: its leaves form a perfect spiral, and it needs a cool climate and perfect drainage.

Where aloes work

Give aloes full sun or bright light and soil that drains fast. They are at home in rockeries, gravel gardens, coastal gardens, pool surrounds and pots, and they handle heat and reflected glare. Most take light frost; protect them from hard frost and from wet feet in winter. They mix well with our other succulents and suit the plantings in rockery plants.

Planting and spacing

Plant on a mound or slope if your soil is heavy. Space compact hybrids 40cm to 50cm apart for a massed effect, and give the tree aloe at least 3m from walls and paving. In pots use a cactus and succulent mix. Water in once, then let the soil dry before watering again.

Care basics

Water deeply but rarely: every two to three weeks in summer for young plants, and almost never once established in the ground. Feed in spring with a slow release fertiliser. Cut spent flower stems at the base and pull away dry lower leaves to keep clumps tidy. Clumping types can be divided when they crowd. The aloe care guide covers this step by step.

Common questions

When do aloes flower?

Most flower from late autumn to early spring, and many of the modern hybrids repeat through the year.

Can aloes take full sun?

Yes. Most colour and flower best in full sun. Plants raised in shade should be moved into sun gradually to avoid scorching.

How often should I water an aloe in a pot?

Water when the mix has dried right through, usually every two to three weeks in warm weather and monthly or less in winter.

How big does a tree aloe grow?

Around 8m tall and 4m wide over many years in the ground. It grows more slowly and stays smaller in a large pot.