Jaws Aloe

Jaws Aloe (Aloe humilis var. echinata 'Jaws') is a miniature succulent, 15 to 20cm tall and wide, with rosettes of green leaves lined with rows of large white teeth. It looks ferocious, but it is easy care. Cream flowers appear when it is happy.

Why you'll love it

• Ferocious looks. Rows of large white teeth along every leaf give it a shark-jaw look that suits a collection of curiosities.
• Genuinely small. At 15 to 20cm tall and wide it fits a teacup-sized pot, a windowsill or a gap in a rockery.
• Easy care. It is an easy care succulent that asks for sun, drainage and not much else.
• Cream flowers. In full sun with good drainage it produces cream flowers, though most people buy it for the foliage.
• Tidy rosettes. It matures into neat rosettes that keep their shape without pruning.

Where it works best

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Plant 20cm apart among stones for a collection of toothed rosettes that look at home with gravel mulch.

Pots and windowsills. A small pot of gritty mix shows off the teeth up close. Put it in a bright position and give it plenty of light.

Succulent displays. Group it with soft-leaved echeverias to set smooth against spiny.

Growing Jaws Aloe in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the best flowers, but it also grows in part shade. Gardens in subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid climates all suit it. Frost can damage it, so in colder districts grow it in a pot you can move under cover.

Soil. Gritty, free draining soil suits it, in a pot or in the ground. Set the crown above the soil so that water cannot collect in the rosette.

Water and feed. A small pot dries quickly, so a weekly watering in warm weather suits it, with much less in winter. Feed once in spring with a half-strength organic liquid fertiliser.

Pups and tidying. Pot up or share any offsets when a pot gets crowded. Snip spent flower stems off at the base.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Jaws Aloe as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a very small rosette, and the white teeth are already visible. Plant it with the crown above the soil in a sunny, well drained spot and water lightly until it settles. The tubes come from our grower, who does not always have them. A sold out tube simply means none is available today, and the notify button on the page emails you the day stock is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our aloe range
• Growing aloes in Australia
• Plants for rockeries
• Succulents in Australia: a complete care guide

Common questions

Are the teeth sharp?

They look fearsome, so handle the plant with care and keep it where small children will not grab it. The plant itself is easy to look after.

Will it flower in a pot?

Yes, if it gets full sun and the mix drains well. Flowers are cream and appear when the plant is happy.

Is it harmful if my dog chews it?

No. Aloes are toxic to dogs and cats if chewed. Keep it on a shelf or in a bed that pets cannot reach.