Aloe humilis
| Light | Bright light to some direct sun; tolerates a little shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderately in growth; allow to dry out between waterings, keep dry in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; roughly USDA zones 9–11 |
| Propagation | Offsets (primary); seed |
| Toxicity | Mildly toxic if eaten; can upset cats and dogs |
Aloe humilis is a small, clumping, stemless aloe from the Cape region of South Africa, prized by collectors for its tidy rosettes of narrow, incurved blue-green leaves. The leaf surfaces are studded with soft, whitish teeth and tubercles that give the plant a bristly, frosted look, earning it the common names spider aloe and hedgehog aloe. It is a hardy, forgiving beginner's Aloe that readily forms dense colonies over time.
Description
Aloe humilis forms a compact, stemless rosette, usually around 10 cm across but sometimes reaching about 20 cm, and clumps of many heads can spread much wider. The leaves are narrow, triangular and sharply incurved, arching inward so the rosette often looks half-closed. Their colour ranges from grey-green to a chalky blue-green, and both surfaces are covered in soft white teeth and small raised tubercles rather than hard marginal spines alone — the feature that gives the plant its spidery, hedgehog-like texture.
In late winter and spring a slender flower stalk rises well above the foliage, carrying a loose cluster of tubular flowers in coral-red to orange, often tipped with green or yellow. The blooms are a favourite of nectar-feeding birds and insects in habitat.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, ranging from the Little Karoo eastward to the Port Elizabeth area and inland to Somerset East. It grows on rocky flats and slopes in arid karroid shrubland, thicket and renosterveld. Plants often nestle among rocks or under the shade of shrubs that shelter the roots from the harshest sun and heat, spreading slowly into clusters. It experiences dry seasons in habitat and is adapted to going without water for extended spells.
Cultivation
Aloe humilis is one of the easier aloes to grow and an excellent choice for beginners. Give it a gritty, free-draining mix and a bright position with some direct sun, which keeps the rosette tight and brings out the blue-grey colouring; too little light makes the leaves stretch and lose their form. Water moderately while the plant is in active growth, letting the soil dry out between waterings, and keep it nearly dry through winter to avoid rot.
The species is fairly cold-tolerant for an aloe and will take a light, brief chill if kept dry, but it should not be exposed to hard frost. As clumps fill their container, lift and divide them every few years — see Repotting and Watering for general technique.
Propagation
The simplest method is division of the offsets, or pups, that the plant produces freely around the base of established clumps. Detach a rooted offset, allow any cut surface to callus for a day or two, then pot it into a gritty mix and water sparingly until it establishes. The species can also be raised from seed, though this is slower and mostly of interest to hybridisers. See Propagation — offsets for a full walkthrough.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, almost always from overwatering or a mix that holds too much moisture; the rosette softens and browns from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the leaves elongate and lose their neat incurved shape and blue-grey bloom.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff nestled in the leaf axils and among offsets) and scale are the most common; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Aloe — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — offsets · Repotting · Pests and diseases