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- Aloe brevifolia (Short-leaved Aloe)
Aloe brevifolia (Short-leaved Aloe)
Ideally, place in partial shade.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. Reduce watering in winter.
It can withstand temperatures as low as -3.9 °C for short periods. However, the plant is not frost-resistant.
Leaves may turn red in full sun, which is a natural reaction of the plant to strong light.
Aloe brevifolia is a low-growing aloe species native to South Africa, where it occurs in the Western Cape Province. It naturally grows on shale slopes and coastal limestone soils. The species name brevifolia means “short-leaved”, referring to the compact form and relatively short leaves of this aloe.
The plant forms rosettes of grey-green, thick and fleshy leaves. The upper surface of the leaves is smooth and spineless, while the lower surface may bear a few soft spines along the central line or irregularly scattered. The leaf margins are armed with firm, whitish, triangular teeth. Individual rosettes reach about 10 cm in diameter and readily produce offsets from the base, gradually forming dense clumps.
Flowering occurs in late spring. An upright inflorescence emerges from the rosette and can grow up to approximately 60 cm tall. The flowers are scarlet to pink in colour and stand out clearly against the foliage.
When grown in full sun, the leaves of Aloe brevifolia may develop red to reddish tones, which is a natural response to higher light intensity. Thanks to its compact growth and clump-forming habit, this species is well suited to smaller growing spaces.