Aloe descoingsii
| Light | Bright, filtered light to a little direct sun; protect from harsh midday summer sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in growth; let the mix dry between waterings, keep drier and cooler in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Frost-tender; keep above about 5 °C, USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Offsets (primary); seed |
| Toxicity | Mildly toxic if eaten; can upset cats and dogs |
Aloe descoingsii is one of the smallest known aloes, a diminutive clustering succulent endemic to Madagascar. Its tiny rosettes are made up of short, triangular, warty leaves edged with pale marginal teeth, and over time it builds up into a dense, low mound. Because of its miniature size and tidy habit, it is a favourite parent in the breeding of small hybrid aloes.
Description
Aloe descoingsii forms rosettes only a few centimetres across, among the smallest in the genus. The leaves are short, thick and triangular, tapering to a point, and their green surface is scattered with raised whitish tubercles (small warty bumps) that give the plant a rough, speckled texture. Fine pale teeth run along the leaf margins.
The rosettes offset freely, so a mature plant becomes a tight clump of many little heads rather than a single specimen. In flowering season it sends up a slender inflorescence carrying small, urn-shaped (urceolate), scarlet to orange blooms with yellowish tips, which are showy relative to the plant's overall size.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to Madagascar, where it grows in a restricted area of the Fiherenana Valley in the south-west, in shallow soil on limestone outcrops. Like many Madagascan aloes it favours well-drained, mineral substrates and bright exposure, often nestling among rocks that offer a little shelter and root-run. Its naturally limited range makes wild plants of conservation interest: the species is assessed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and — unusually for the genus, most of which falls under Appendix II — it is listed on CITES Appendix I, so cultivated, nursery-grown material is what circulates in the hobby.
Cultivation
Aloe descoingsii is an easy and rewarding little plant for a bright windowsill or greenhouse. Grow it in a small pot of gritty, free-draining mix and give it bright light, with some protection from the fiercest summer sun to keep the foliage from scorching. Water moderately while it is in active growth, always letting the substrate dry out before watering again, and keep it drier and cooler through the winter rest. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Being frost-tender, it should be kept above roughly 5 °C. Its small size makes it well suited to collections where space is limited, and it grows happily alongside other miniature succulents.
Propagation
The simplest method is division of the offsets: mature clumps produce plenty of small pups that can be separated and potted up individually. Allow any cut or torn surfaces to callus briefly before planting into a barely-moist mix. The species also sets seed and can be raised that way, which is how many of its hybrids begin. See Propagation — offsets and Propagation — seed for full walkthroughs.
Cultivars
A. descoingsii is prized less for named forms of itself than for its role in hybridising. Its miniature stature and warty, toothed leaves are passed on to numerous small hybrid aloes, and it is one of the parents behind many of the compact, textured hybrids popular with collectors of miniature succulents.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, almost always from overwatering or a mix that drains too slowly; heads soften and collapse from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the tight rosettes stretch and lose their compact, warty character.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff between the leaves and among the roots) and the occasional scale insect are the main nuisances; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Aloe — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — offsets · Propagation — seed