Aloe ciliaris
| Light | Bright light to full sun; tolerates a little shade but flowers best with plenty of light |
|---|---|
| Water | Regular in the growing season, letting the top of the mix dry between waterings; reduce in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining but not starved; a gritty mix with some organic matter (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; roughly USDA zones 9–11, though it takes brief light frost when dry |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (very easy); also seed |
| Toxicity | Best treated as mildly toxic if eaten; keep away from cats and dogs, as with the genus Aloe |
Aloe ciliaris, now more correctly placed as Aloiampelos ciliaris, is a fast-growing, scrambling climbing aloe from the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Unlike the stout rosette-forming aloes, it produces long, slender, flexible stems that clamber up through surrounding shrubs. The base of each leaf, where it sheathes the stem, is fringed with soft, white marginal hairs (cilia) — the feature that gives the plant its name. It is one of the easiest and most rewarding aloes for a beginner.
Description
Aloiampelos ciliaris forms thin, rambling stems that can reach several metres in length when supported, though they flop and sprawl if left free. The stems are green and pliable, wrapped along their length by the persistent, papery leaf bases. Narrow, tapering green leaves are spaced up the stem rather than gathered into a tight terminal rosette, and each leaf sheath is edged with fine, soft white hairs (the "cilia"). The long, wiry stems let the plant lean and scramble through neighbouring vegetation in the wild.
Flowering is generous and can occur through much of the year in mild conditions. Slim, tubular flowers in warm orange to scarlet, tipped with green or yellow, are carried in loose terminal clusters and are highly attractive to sunbirds and other nectar feeders.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it grows in thicket and scrub, scrambling up through dense bush and along forest margins. In these settings the long stems use surrounding shrubs for support and lift the foliage and flowers up toward the light. It is adapted to a climate of warm, mostly frost-free conditions with seasonal rather than constant moisture.
Cultivation
This is a forgiving, vigorous plant that suits both containers and open ground in mild climates. Give it bright light or full sun for the sturdiest growth and best flowering, and a mix that drains freely but is not as lean as that used for slow desert cacti — it appreciates a little more moisture and feeding than many succulents during active growth. Water regularly through the warm months, letting the surface dry between waterings, and ease off in winter.
Because the stems scramble rather than stand, most growers either provide a trellis or support, let the plant cascade from a raised pot or wall, or simply prune it back to keep it bushy. Regular tip-pruning encourages branching and more flowering stems. See Watering and Repotting for general technique. In frost-prone areas grow it in a container that can be moved under cover for winter.
Propagation
Propagation could hardly be simpler: stem cuttings root very readily. Take a length of stem, let the cut end callus for a day or two, and insert it into a gritty, barely moist mix; roots form quickly in warm conditions. This ease of rooting makes the climbing aloe a popular pass-along plant. Seed is also viable where flowers are pollinated. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — seed for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause is cold, wet compost in winter; keep the plant drier and warmer in the dormant season.
- Leggy, sparse growth — too little light stretches the stems and reduces flowering; move to a brighter spot and prune to encourage branching.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in leaf axils and among the stems) and scale are the most likely nuisances; aphids may gather on flower stalks. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Aloe — the genus overview
- Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — seed · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Pests and diseases