Re: Aloe recommendations

Date:          Sat, 19 Jun 1999 13:34:38 -0700
Subject:       Re: Aloe recommendations
From:          "Dan McKean" <danm@marmot.net>
To:            nsterman@mindsovermatter.com, medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Reply-to:      danm@marmot.net

The two large aloes that come to my mind are Aloe bainesii and Aloe 
dichotoma.

I've seen Aloe bainesii in several places in Central and southern
California--from the one planted at a nursery near Morro Bay, down through
LA and into San Diego.   Where I've seen it this aloe sends up four to seven
10 foot long stalks from a large base, with tufts of leaves towards the
tops.  I also saw it in one of the exhibits at the 1998 San Francisco Garden
Show.

I've only seen Aloe dichotoma once.  There were several in ground at a
nursery in Tucson, with heights from five to ten feet.  It's more stout than
Aloe bainesii, with a thicker trunk and leaves.  It's also has a more golden
tone to the trunk and leaves, whereas Aloe bainesii is more blue-green as I
recall.  The Aloe dichotoma I bought there has put on about 6" of growth in
the past four months; it's now a good 16" high.

A very good place to see Aloes is at the Huntington Museum and Gardens in
San Marino--near Pasadena, California.   It's a fun trip; though I'm not
into 18th century portraits, the display garden is great and contains a
large desert section (it's where I first saw a Welwitschia!) and if you get
there early enough you can enjoy their breakfast tea in their Tea Room.

Dan McKean
San Jose, CA


DEAR ALL

ALOE FEROX, ALOE PLICATILIS, ALOE AFRICANA ARE ALL GOOD AND MUCH MORE 
COLD TOLERANT THAN BAINESII OR DICHOTOMA (WHICH IS A PURE DESERT 
PLANT AND VERY INTOLERANT OF TOO MUCH DAMPNESS AND COLD) THE ABOVE 
THREE ARE ALL BIGG-ISH GROWERS MAKING SHORT TO MEDIUM TRUNKS -1 METRE 
- 3 METRES TALL. PLICATILIS MAKES A MULTI-TRUNKED SHRUB RATHER LIKE 
AN OBESE BONSAI WHILE FEROX MAKES ONLY A FEW STEMS AND AFRICANA MAKES 
MANY. ALL FLOWER IN WINTER AND ARE LOVED BY HONEY-EATING BIRDS. IF 
YOU CAN FIND MATURE OLD PLANTS, AND CAN PERSUADE THE OWNER, THEY ARE 
EASILY GROWN FROM LARGE STEM CUTTINGS. SIMPLY SAW OFF AS MUCH AS YOU 
WANT OR ARE PERMITTED TO TAKE, REST STANDING UPRIGHT IN A WELL LIT 
SPOT WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE CUT JUST TOUCHING A THICK LAYER OF COARSE 
SAND (OR STAND THE TRUNCHEON/ CUTTING ON A BUCKET OF SAND IN YOUR 
GREENHOUSE). THE CUTTING WILL SEEP REDDISH SAP AND EVENTUALLY CALLOUS 
OVER; THEN STUBBY FINGER-THICK ROOTS WILL BEGIN TO APPEAR. tRANSPALNT 
ANYTIME SO LONG AS THERE IS NO DANGER OF A COLD SNAP FOR SEVERAL 
MONTHS. IT WILL PROBABLY BE NECESSARY TO STAKE, OR PROP OR GUY, THE 
ROOTED CUTTING UNTIL IT'S ROOT SYSTEM CAN FULLY SUPPORT IT IN ALL 
WEATHERS - POSSIBLY UNTI THE END OF THE FIRST GROWING SEASON.

TREVOR N

-----------------
Trevor Nottle
Garden Writer, Historian,     
Lecturer and Consultant 
       
    'Walnut Hill'                          
     5 Walker St       
     Crafers SA 5152 
     AUSTRALIA

Phone: +618 83394210
Fax:   +618 83394210
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