Aloe pillansii - again

[JaneO]

Cheers for that Tony! Great photos from Suzanne!

[BrianMc]

What a fantastic plant.
You wouldnt want that to fall on you!
It would be a terrible shame if this means the end of it.

I'm really irritated by Kew's (and Edinburgh Botanic for that matter) stance regarding only having documented plants of known origin. I can understand they don't want any old common thing offered by the public, but I think a little common sense is required on their part. A plant like this is crying out for a botanic garden. There is no question about the plant's identity and with the problems and declining numbers in the wild mean that a plant of this size is precious. It would also be a 'statement' plant and great for visitors to see.

Very best of luck in finding a new home for this beauty.

[ChrisR]

Just tell them it was grown from seed from material originally collected on Cornell's Kop many years ago.

Probably true.....

[Aloenut]

topsy,

Be careful when you eventually move it.
They do not transplant well. I have seen struggling specimens at Kirstenbosch.

[topsy]

Thank you for your words of wisdom, I had realised that because it is difficult to re-root as a younger plant even.

Regards,

Suzanne

[Rogan]

I always go back to nature for inspiration: now how would I go about moving this one? I'm not much help, am I?

[topsy]

Hi Rogan,

What a splendid specimen, was that taken in the wilds or your back garden ? It would definitely be too big for any greenhouse over here.

Best wishes, Suzanne

[Rogan]

That's a well-known specimen in the Richtersveld - if only my garden was that wild, it was a wheat field 25 years ago.

[David_K]

I spent over two years trying to find a home for an A. dichotoma that at 9ft plus had outgrown my GH. I was even able to supply location data as I had grown it from seed that I had collected in 1985 near Ais Ais in Namibia. After much faffing around by Wisley I gave up on them and it now looks as if it will end up in Leicester Botanic Garden next spring. Luckily Leicester branch have involvement with the botanic garden and have facilitated the move at least in theory. All I have to do now is get it out of the bed in my GH, disentangle it from the roof mechanism and transport it to Leicester!!!

And this is small compared to Suzanne's pillansii which always attacks me when I try to pass it in her GH.

[FaeLLe]

IMGP8885c.jpg

David if you dont mind me asking how big is that greenhouse in the pic and how much did it cost you please?