Aloe Species, African Aloe, Soap Aloe

A. maculata is one of only maybe a dozen Aloe species that grow well and readily blooms in Ft Lauderdale, FL’s subtropical/ tropical 10...Read Moreb climate, being commonly used to form mats and for edging. The speckled aspect of the leaves is attractive, however the larger rosette size, softer teeth, and darker winter leaf coloring of Aloe rabaiensis makes it the preferred species for these uses here, in my opinion.

I have several Aloe maculata around my garden, most are in the ground, some in pots. This aloe takes Florida rains very well, never seems...Read More bothered, does well in sun and shade, but looks better with some relief from afternoon sun. Flowers attract hummingbirds.My plants have taken temps down to the upper 20's for many nights with no covering. The plants will turn a bronze, maroon or even purple when distressed from cold, but they rebound nicely once we warm up. I actually like when they turn colors, sort of fall looking.

This plant was already in the garden when we moved here 23 years ago. Requires virtually no care, grows in our sticky clay soil in full s...Read Moreun or complete shade under our Magnolia grandiflora tree. Blooms every spring with gorgeous salmon flowers that the hummingbirds love, and spreads itself around the yard. Easy to propagate from the new pups.

Very hardy aloe, making a large group of suckers and its quite thorny too.
Though it can be a bit invasive it is not hard to cont...Read Morerol and is good for growing under trees or in exposed spots with crappy soil where nothing grows. It is quite shade tolerant as well. Here it tends to be a greenish colour with moisture and shade and a attractive reddish purple under stress.
Seems very cold and wet tolerant in Melbourne this winter Ive had some other aloes rotting in the center from codl and moisture these are fine. This one arborescens and mitriformis seem to be the hardiest around here and can often be found growing well in neglected gardens and are commonly sold in garden centers. A few of my Maculatas have had some root loss from the cold and wet but they will quickly regrow in the warmer weather.