Aloe (Aristaloe) aristata

[ralphrmartin]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm sure my plant is the common form in the UK. I got it from "a little old lady".

It sounds like the plants you are describing are on the way to Aloe humilis. Do you think there is any chance some hybridisation might have gone on?

How about sending us a photo of your plants in cultivation, Chris?

[ChrisR]

Our group did comment on the Aloe humilis resemblance at the time but the sheer size of these Fraserburg plants put that to rest. Basically we just didn't have the experience (and still don't) to know exactly what we were looking at.

The Drakensberg plants in the photo are open and quite lush due to their shaded aspect and being in growth I suppose. When dry and at rest they tighten up much like yours.

[ralphrmartin]

Let's hope you can propagate this up, Chris, and spread it around. It's a nice looking plant.

[ChrisR]

Always my intention Ralph as you know. You'll be second on the list so maybe remind me in a year or two......one of the reasons we originally went to look for A.aristata was down to Ivor Crook asking to add it to our itinerary of plants to see. So he's already requested the first prop of this one. This is on the Red List as widespread, common not threatened and of least concern. I think just like with Aloe (Goniealoe) variegata it's so common in cultivation that it has little commercial value so no one bothers collecting them. Which is a good thing, of course.

[ralphrmartin]

Thanks Chris, I appreciate it.

(Goni)Aloe variegata is another variable plant in habitat. I tried for years to find the form sometimes called Aloe ausana, and eventually managed to get a few seeds from Phillipe Richaud, here on the forum. I have one small plant coming along as a result, which is already looking quite stubby. Too small to be offsetting yet, but hopefully I can propagate it.

[Phil_SK]

It's always good to see unfamiliar forms of plants that are fairly uniform or even clonal in cultivation. Other than the 'windowsill form', the only other plant of this I've come across is the Cathedral Peak form:

Aristaloe aristata 'Cathedral Peak'

Given the hardiness of this species, I hope that plants from other parts of its range might prove to be even more conducive to outdoors cultivation and that we, some day, might get the chance to test them out.

[Liz M]

This has been a most interesting discussion about, what to some people, is a humble Aloe. Yet you can show us pictures of something we might not imagine. I have the usual Drakensberg form, so I have put a couple of pictures of it. The first is one I kept outside all winter, although admittedly a mild one, in a sheltered position and this has just been re-potted.

IMG_6683.1.jpg (639.3 KiB) Viewed 1637 times

The second had also been kept outside in the same sheltered position. However, in spring I decided to make a succulent and cactus bed in my rockery, so built it up and put in about 80% grit. I put in several plants that I could afford to lose, including some small Opuntias, an Agave, an Echeveria, a couple of Delosperma (the slugs and snails have loved them) and the other Aloe aristata. So here is a picture I took today.

This and all the others will stay out over winter to see what happens. The rockery is fairly sheltered and has rock walls and outcrops, although only small. This is the North-west and is normally wet and cold and frosty over winter, so I will be most interested to see what survives.

[ralphrmartin]

Well, I have just won this plant on eBay which claims to be the "wide leaf form" - I'd be interested in your opinion, Chris.
Anyone have insight into what CCC09:VLD might mean?
Joyce Coccoza collection? and VLD?

[ChrisR]

No further info from the seller Ralph? It does look even chunkier than Phil's photo of his Cathedral Peak form so I'd suggest it may be another clone of that. No idea about the numbers and letters.

[Phil_SK]

Anyone have insight into what CCC09:VLD might mean?
Joyce Coccoza collection? and VLD?

I would think so, though it's only the Haworthia that seem to appear in http://www.haworthia.org/wordpress/the- ... -database/