Aloe Species, Noble Aloe, Zimbabwe Aloe

One of only several tree Aloes which perform well and bloom in Ft Lauderdale’s subtropical/tropical 10b Climate. Was planted 10 years ...Read Moreago with a Dune Aloe (A. thraskii), winter solstice bloomer here, which performed and bloomed exceptionally well until Hurricane Irma felled it. As a result, A excelsa received more sun and took off. It is a spring Equinox bloomer here, with foot long vermillion-orange inflorescence, and contrasting deep-aubergine filaments. The olive-green leaves have the occasional solitary tooth in the middle - both above or beneath. Less showy than A thraskii out of bloom, more showy than A. thraskii in bloom. Aside from Fairchild Tropical Gardens, I’m the only one I know of experimenting with - and having good success - with some Tree Aloe species in SE FL.

This is one of the larger non-branching tree aloes... makes a nice, tall tree eventually with long, arching green leaves. Most adult pla...Read Morents have smooth leaves, but some maintain the leaf spines typical of immature plants. Some well treated plants can have quite large, healthy leaves, though. Color of flowers variable - usually reddish, but can be orange, yellow and even white. Flowers are typically flatted downward on racemes and at slight angles, making them distingishable from Aloe ferox flowers which intially look very similar (plant does, too). Aloe ferox racemes are usually much longer and perfectly erect, without a slight slant or without the markedly flattened flowers. Aloe excelsa flowers usually bloom in late winter and are always spectacular.

My smaller plant looks a lot like several other tree aloes, including Aloe marlothii and Aloe ferox.

From Zimbavwe Africa and not endangered.