Description
Aloe speciosa (Aloaceae) It is a tall, erect aloe with a single or multiple stem and reaches a height of 3 to 6 m. The rosettes are tilted towards the north and it retains its old, dried leaves around the stem. The leaves are pale bluish-green, often tinged pink at the tips and edges, long and narrow, slightly drooping and irregularly and densely arranged in a central rosette. The inflorescence is a short, cylindrical raceme about 500 mm long, densely packed with flowers. The buds are a deep red when young and mature to green with white stripes. Sowing : Seeds germinate very well but may damp off if over watered. Use a mixture of river sand, compost and soil to sow seeds in. Sprinkle the seeds evenly on the surface and cover with a layer of small pebbles. The pebbles help the seedlings to stay upright and prevent damping off. Keep seed tray in a dry warm corner and do not allow to dry out. Transplant the seedlings after one year. Locality : Somerset-east. Harvest : November 2021
