Aloe hybrid 'Blizzard'
Aloe 'Blizzard is a small ornamental hybrid aloe prized for its heavy dusting of bright white flecks and speckles set against a green body. A commercially produced cultivar (an Altman Plants introduction) whose exact parentage is not reliably documented, it closely resembles — and is often sold under the name of — the diminutive Aloe rauhii. It is a tidy, slow-clumping rosette that keeps its bold snowflake pattern year round, making it one of the more popular small aloes for windowsills and mixed succulent arrangements.
Care for 'Blizzard' follows that of small hybrid aloes generally, and closely tracks that of the similar Aloe rauhii; see the Aloe genus page for an overview.
Description
'Blizzard' forms a compact, tight rosette usually no more than about 15 cm (6 in) across, made up of short, fleshy, triangular leaves that curve gently inward. The leaf surface is the plant's whole appeal: a green ground scattered with crowded white markings — flecks, spots and short bands — that can be dense enough to make the leaf look frosted, hence the name. The leaf margins carry small, soft, pale teeth.
The plant offsets freely from the base to form a small cluster over time. Mature clumps may throw slender flower spikes of small, tubular blooms, though the plant is grown chiefly for its patterned foliage rather than its flowers.
Cultivation
Grow 'Blizzard' as you would other small hybrid aloes. Give it bright light — a bright windowsill, or a lightly shaded spot outdoors in mild climates — which keeps the rosette compact and the white markings crisp; in too little light the leaves stretch, darken and lose contrast. The pale, heavily marked leaves can scorch in intense, unshaded summer sun, so give some protection from the harshest midday light. Plant it in a free-draining, mostly mineral mix and water thoroughly only once the soil has dried out, easing right off through the cooler months. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Being a small, shallow-rooted plant, 'Blizzard' does well in a modest pot and appreciates good airflow to prevent rot where the tight leaves meet. Protect it from frost; like most ornamental aloes it is happiest kept above freezing.
Because it is a vegetatively maintained hybrid, 'Blizzard' comes true only from offsets, not seed. The clumps are easily divided: separate rooted pups and pot them individually, or take offsets and let the cut surfaces callus before potting. See Propagation — offsets and Propagation — cuttings for details.
See also
- Aloe — the genus overview
- Aloe rauhii — a closely similar species often associated with this hybrid
- Propagation — offsets · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting