Walnut Creek’s Ruth Bancroft is a national authority on drought-resistant gardening. Twice a month, she and her staff share their knowledge with readers.
Winter is a great time of the year for aloes, with many species coming into flower. Among these winter bloomers is Aloe suprafoliata, a stemless or short-stemmed species from northeastern South Africa and neighboring Swaziland. This plant usually remains single and produces tapering succulent leaves up to 16 inches long, with small teeth along the edges. In less intense sunlight, the leaves are blue-green; in bright conditions, they become a milky blue-gray. In the dry winter conditions that prevail in its native habitat, this species often is tinted reddish-brown on the outside of the rosette, but this coloration is seldom seen in plants cultivated in California.
The flower stalk of Aloe suprafoliata is not branched, but plants can produce several at once, rising to a height of 3 feet or more. Even before the flowers open, the cylindrical pinkish-red buds, tipped in slate gray or purplish gray, are attractive. The buds are upward-pointing; as the flowers mature, they pivot downward, then point back up again as they pass maturity, so that the seed pods are held erect. The flowers are long, slender and densely grouped in steeplelike clusters. The peak flowering months for the species in California are December and January (in its native South Africa, May to July).
Young Aloe suprafoliata plants have their leaves lined up in single planes stacked one atop the other. The name “suprafoliata” (meaning “leaves on top”) refers to this arrangement, and the effect is quite appealing. However, the plant eventually switches to a whorled arrangement like that seen in other kinds of aloes.
Aloe suprafoliata is not difficult to grow if given a sunny position and good drainage. One plant makes an excellent focal point in a garden bed; if enough room is available, a group planting will make an impressive splash of color in December and January. Even though its habitat has dry winters, it will tolerate our winter rains. While the plant can take freezes down to the mid-20s without injury to its leaves, the flowers are more vulnerable. A cold spell reaching 30 degrees likely will not cause problems, but a few degrees colder could do damage. Protect the plant by putting it under a branch or eave.
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