Aloe petricola
“Rock Aloe”

Photo courtesy of Daderot

This Aloe rocks! Aloe petricola has blue-grey leaves that form a tight rosette and curl up and inward with no visible stem. At 1-2 ft. tall and 2-3 ft. wide, it does not form a trunk. Aloe petricola has unusual bicolor blooms, with reddish-orange buds that open to a cream-yellow with faint green stripes. Single stalks of densely packed buds open from the bottom to the top and add branches as they grow, up to six at maturity. Mid-winter blooming, this aloe makes a good nectar source for pollinators and is attractive to Hummingbirds. Native to rocky granite slopes in South Africa, this aloe is very tolerant of poor soils and can even grow in clay!  Hardy to 20 to 25 degrees F, it requires protection from hard frosts in winter. Occasional feeding with organic matter and careful watering will keep this aloe happy for many years!