Aloe arborescens

Arborescent Aloe, also known as Tree Aloe or Candelabra Aloe, is a beautiful botanical species, though not a hardy one. It is capable of forming, in the space of 3 or 4 years, a large and unusual spreading bush, resembliing a scaffolding of rosettes of long, tentacle-like dentate leaves, carried at the end of thick stems. This plant is well-known for its medicinal properties which, according to recent studies, seem to be even more powerful than those of its famous cousin, Aloe vera. Its unusual and surprising flowering can take place as early as the end of winter. From the centre of the rosettes emerge spikes of red flowers, very decorative, somewhat reminiscent of tritoma flowers. Its cultivation presents no difficulty in well-drained soil: adopt this wonderful and miraculous plant in a large pot on the terrace, and bring it indoors to protect it from frost in winter!

The Arborescent Aloe, sometimes called Deer Horn or Ram's Horn, is a botanical species in the family Aloeaceae, native to southeastern South Africa. Its range is wide, extending to Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. This plant grows on mountain cliffs, in high-altitude meadows, anchored to rocks, in open forests, and along wooded coastlines. It has become invasive in Portugal and has naturalised in the south of France. It is a large plant, more bushy than perennial, with succulent and evergreen foliage. It forms a large bush with an open habit, with thick semi-erect branches that spread more or less on the ground. Its growth is very rapid. An adult plant will reach about 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height and an approximate spread of 2m 50cm (8 ft 2 in), or even more, under good growing conditions. The branches originate from the base and taper into stems that give rise to clusters of long, thick, waxy leaves, with a matte bluish-green color, often concave, sword-shaped, 40 to 60cm (15.7 - 23.6 in) long and edged with small teeth. In March-April rosettes of tall, branched flower stems emerge, bearing 30cm (11.8 in) long spikes composed of tubular red flowers, popular with pollinating insects. The flower spike moves away from the centre as new leaves appear. Arborescent Aloe produces many new stems when well-pruned, a trait that can be used to shape it into a beautiful dome shape, particularly ornamental when the plant is in bloom. Conversely, if young shoots are regularly removed from the base, it can be trained into a small tree.

Highly resistant to sea spray and drought, preferring to grow in stone walls that isolate it from moisture, Arborescent Aloe is most often cultivated in pots to decorate a terrace or balcony due to its low hardiness (down to -4°C). Planting in the ground should be reserved for regions completely spared from frost. To enjoy its unusual silhouette, install in an elevated rocky bed overlooking a path or garage driveway, in a rock garden or on a dry slope. It makes a magnificent specimen in well-drained and sloping or rocky terrain, or even anchored to dry stone walls. Elsewhere, it can be planted in a pot taller than it is wide (as it multiplies quickly) to showcase its strong personality on a contemporary or exotic-themed terrace. It combines well with agaves, prickly pears, Delosperma, Carpobrotus, or shrubby Euphorbias (Euphorbia mellifera). At their base, you can plant frugal ground covers: Evening Primroses, Osteospermums, Felicia, or witch claws, which will fill the space with their flowering and persistent foliage, hiding any gaps left by dead plants.

The therapeutic properties of Arborescent Aloe are currently being studied. This plant was used more commonly in traditional Asian or Mediterranean pharmacopoeia than in South Africa. In Japan, the leaves are consumed as a purgative. The gel, similar to that of Aloe vera, is used in dermatology and cosmetology. At the end of World War II, the gel of Arborescent Aloe helped heal the burns of Hiroshima victims, further establishing knowledge of the exceptional healing properties of this plant. The leaves are only harvested from the third year of cultivation onwards.

About Agaves and Aloes:

Aloes and agaves resemble each other but belong to two different botanical families, Aloeaceae and Agavaceae. The main difference lies in the fact that the rosettes of aloes flower for many years, while the flowering of a mature agave rosette marks the end of its life. In some Aloe species, interfoliar buds give rise to new plants that cover the dried-out remains of the mother plant. In agaves, the central flower spike develops from the terminal bud. In aloes, the flower buds emerge between the leaves. Agaves are native to North America, while aloes are found only in the southern half of Africa, as well as in nearby Indian Ocean islands.