Spiral Aloe

Spiral Aloe (Aloe polyphylla) is the succulent people buy for its geometry. As the rosette matures the leaves arrange themselves into a tight, perfectly ranked spiral, clockwise or anticlockwise depending on the plant. It stays compact at about 40cm tall and 60cm across, and it is the one aloe genuinely suited to cold gardens.

Why you'll love it

• A living piece of geometry. Nothing else in the succulent world forms that spiral, and it sharpens every year as the rosette adds leaves.
• Frost hardy, unlike most aloes. It comes from high altitude Lesotho, where snow is normal, so cold southern gardens suit it.
• Very little upkeep. Drought tolerant and low maintenance once established, it asks for sharp drainage and then to be left alone.
• Flowers the birds work. Mature plants throw red and orange flower spikes that bring nectar feeding birds into the garden.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A wide, shallow pot shows the spiral from above, which is how it is meant to be seen. Potting also lets you control drainage and move it out of summer rain.

Rockeries and small gardens. Set it into a raised rockery or gravel bed where water drains away fast, with clear space on all sides so the rosette is not crowded.

Feature planting. One plant at eye level, on a plinth or the top of a retaining wall, does more work than a group would.

Growing Spiral Aloe in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade in an open position with air movement. Frost hardy and wind tolerant, it belongs in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. The honest limitation is humidity: subtropical and tropical gardens are a poor match, and plants there often rot in the wet season.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters more than anything else. Use a gritty cactus and succulent mix, or open a bed up with coarse sand and gravel and plant on a raised mound.

Water and feed. Water deeply but only once the mix has dried right through, roughly fortnightly in warm weather and much less in winter. Keep it as dry as you can through summer rain. A light succulent fertiliser once in spring is plenty.

Pruning. None. Pull away dried outer leaves by hand and cut spent flower spikes at the base. Cutting into live leaves permanently spoils the pattern.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are available. Tubes are young plants with a small flat rosette and no spiral yet, the value option if you are patient. The 300mm plants are several years further along, with a fuller rosette beginning to show the twist.

This aloe is slow. The spiral develops as the leaf count builds, so expect years rather than seasons before a tube looks like the photographs. Plants travel well because the leaves carry their own water. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our complete aloe care guide.
• Browse the full succulent range.
• Find companions in plants for rockeries.
• Compare other drought tolerant plants.

Common questions

When will it actually form the spiral?

Not straight away. The pattern only emerges once the rosette has built enough leaves, so young tube stock looks like an ordinary flat aloe for its first few years. The 300mm size is well ahead.

Can I grow it in Brisbane or Far North Queensland?

It is not the right plant for a humid climate. Warm wet summers are what kill this species, and it performs far better in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. In a humid area, keep it potted under cover.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Aloes are toxic to pets if chewed, so place it out of reach or choose something else if you have an animal that samples the garden.

How often should I water it?

Only when the mix is dry all the way through, roughly fortnightly in warm weather and rarely in winter. Overwatering, not neglect, is what kills most spiral aloes.