Aloe dichotoma
| Light | Full sun; give as much bright light as you can |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; soak-and-dry, water only when soil is fully dry, near-dry in winter |
| Soil | Very fast-draining, gritty mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Warm and frost-free; USDA zones 9b–11, protect below freezing |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); cuttings possible but slow and unreliable |
| Toxicity | Toxicity not well documented; like other aloes it may contain irritant compounds, so best kept away from pets and not a food plant |
Aloe dichotoma — now more correctly placed in its own genus as Aloidendron dichotomum — is the iconic quiver tree or kokerboom of southern Africa, a large, slow-growing tree aloe famous for its smooth, golden, repeatedly forking trunk. It is one of the most recognisable plants of the arid west of South Africa and Namibia, where its silhouette against the desert sky has become a symbol of the region.
The common names refer to the San (Bushmen) practice of hollowing out the tough, fibrous branches to make quivers for arrows. The botanical name dichotoma — from the Greek for "forked in two" — describes the way the crown branches again and again into equal pairs.
Description
Aloidendron dichotomum is a true tree aloe, in time reaching several metres tall with a stout, tapering trunk. The trunk is covered in a smooth, powdery, golden-brown to yellowish bark that peels in thin, sharp-edged flakes near the base. Above, the crown divides repeatedly in neat forks, each branch ending in a rosette of thick, blue-green, upcurved leaves edged with fine yellowish teeth.
The leaves are relatively short and broad for a tree aloe, coated in a pale bloom that helps reflect the fierce desert sun. In winter, mature trees carry short, branched spikes of bright canary-yellow flowers held above the foliage, rich in nectar and much visited by birds and insects.
Growth is very slow, especially in the early years, and large specimens in habitat may be well over a century old.
Distribution and habitat
The quiver tree grows in the hot, dry western reaches of southern Africa — the Northern Cape of South Africa and much of southern and central Namibia — where it favours rocky slopes and well-drained mineral ground in some of the most arid country on the continent. Rainfall is low and often unpredictable, and the plant is adapted to long droughts and intense sun.
In places these trees gather into striking stands, the best known being the "Quiver Tree Forest" near Keetmanshoop in Namibia. Concern has grown over die-back of mature trees at the warmer, drier edges of the range, widely linked to a warming and drying climate, making the species something of a bellwether for environmental change in the region. The species is covered by the CITES Appendix II listing for aloes; wild plants should never be collected, but nursery-grown seed plants are entirely legal to own.
Cultivation
Given its origins, Aloidendron dichotomum wants heat, sun and sharp drainage above all else. Grow it in a very free-draining, largely mineral mix in a deep pot or, in a suitably warm and dry climate, in the open ground. Full sun is ideal; the more light it gets, the tighter and bluer the leaves and the sturdier the trunk.
Water on a strict soak-and-dry basis during the warm growing months, letting the soil dry out completely between waterings, and keep the plant nearly dry through winter. Overwatering — particularly in cool, damp conditions — is the quickest way to lose one to rot. It resents cold, wet feet and is not frost-hardy, so in temperate regions it is best grown as a container plant that can be brought under cover for winter. Be patient: this is a plant grown for the long term, and it will never be a fast one. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most reliable method. Sown on a warm, gritty surface and kept lightly moist until germination, the seedlings grow slowly but steadily; raising a quiver tree from seed is a long-term project measured in years rather than months. See Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough.
Cuttings of the branches are sometimes attempted, but they root slowly and erratically and rarely make well-shaped plants, so vegetative propagation is uncommon. See Propagation — cuttings for the general approach.
Common problems
- Rot — by far the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a poorly draining mix, or cold damp conditions; the base or roots soften and discolour.
- Etiolation — too little light makes growth soft, pale and drawn, spoiling the compact form.
- Cold damage — frost injures the leaves and can kill the plant outright; keep it above freezing.
- Pests — scale insects and mealybugs can settle in the leaf axils and on the trunk; watch for them in sheltered spots.
See also
- Aloe — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — cuttings · Pests and diseases