Aloe esculenta

Aloe esculenta

Family: Aloaceae

It suckers to form dense clumps of plants. Leaves in a compact rosette, erect-spreading; lanceolate, greyish-green, tinged pinkish-brown in dry conditions, densely white-spotted on both surfaces with the spots in irregular transverse bands, the lower surface with scattered pungent, blackish-brown prickles mostly along the median line; margin with pungent, deltoid blackish-brown teeth.

Sowing instructions: Seeds germinate very well but may damp off if overwatered. 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: Namibia. Harvest: June 2024