- Home
- Succulents
- Aloe
- Aloe descoingsii
Aloe descoingsii
Ideally, place in partial shade.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. Reduce watering in winter.
It can tolerate temperatures as low as -1.1 °C for short periods. However, the plant is not frost-resistant.
Thanks to its dwarf growth, it is ideal even for very small bowls.
Aloe descoingsii originates from southwestern Madagascar, from the Fiherenana Valley, where it grows on limestone cliffs at an elevation of around 350 metres. The epithet descoingsii honours Bernard Descoings (1931–2018), the French botanist who first discovered this species.
The plant forms very small, stemless rosettes of dull green triangular leaves with toothed margins. The leaf surface is decorated with white spots, giving the rosettes a distinctive pattern. Individual rosettes reach only about 5 cm in diameter, but the plant offsets freely and over time can form an impressive clump of dozens or even hundreds of tiny rosettes.
Flowering occurs from spring into summer. Aloe descoingsii produces slender flower stalks up to about 15 cm long, carrying urn-shaped scarlet flowers that fade slightly towards orange tones at the tips.
Aloe descoingsii is considered one of the smallest aloe species, and its clumping habit makes it a highly attractive collector’s plant. It prefers a bright position in partial shade and well-draining soil, watered carefully only several days after the soil has completely dried out. If you are looking for a miniature aloe that gradually forms a dense carpet of rosettes, Aloe descoingsii is an excellent choice for a collection.