Aloe striata
| Light | Bright light to full sun; a little afternoon shade in the hottest climates |
|---|---|
| Water | Regular in the growing season, allow to dry between waterings; sparing in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining gritty succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; roughly USDA zones 9–11, tolerates brief light frost |
| Propagation | Seed; occasionally division of clumping plants |
| Toxicity | Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten |
Aloe striata, the coral aloe, is a stemless South African species prized for its smooth, spineless blue-green leaves edged in translucent pinkish-red and its striking, branched heads of coral-orange flowers. It is one of the most garden-worthy of the medium-sized aloes, grown as much for its clean architectural rosette as for its winter bloom.
Description
Aloe striata forms a solitary or slowly clumping rosette of broad, gently recurved leaves, typically reaching 40–60 cm across. Unlike many aloes, the leaf margins carry no teeth — instead they are lined with a narrow, cartilaginous rim that flushes rosy pink to coral-red, most vividly when the plant is grown hard in bright light. The leaf surface is smooth and often faintly striped lengthwise (the source of the name striata, "striped"), with a soft powdery bloom giving it a blue-grey to sea-green cast.
In late winter and spring the rosette sends up a tall, branched inflorescence topped with flat-domed heads of tubular flowers in warm coral-orange to salmon tones. This much-branched, flat-topped panicle, together with the smooth, spineless leaf margins, is a reliable way to distinguish this species from its many lookalikes.
Distribution and habitat
The coral aloe is native to the arid regions of South Africa, across parts of the Eastern and Western Cape and into the drier Karoo. It grows on rocky slopes and flats, often rooting in gritty, well-drained soils among stones where it receives strong sun and only seasonal rainfall. Plants in habitat endure heat, drought and considerable temperature swings.
Note that Aloe striata is sometimes confused with, and hybridises freely with, related species such as Aloe maculata (the soap aloe); genuinely spineless margins and a smooth, unspotted leaf are the marks of the true species.
Cultivation
Aloe striata is an easy, forgiving plant and an excellent choice for beginners. Grow it in a free-draining, gritty mix in bright light or full sun; the leaf edges colour up best with plenty of light, while too much shade leaves the rosette flat and pale green. Water regularly through the warm growing months, letting the soil dry between waterings, and cut back sharply in winter to avoid rot.
It is more tolerant of cold and brief light frost than many aloes, but is happiest kept above freezing. In mild climates it makes a superb, low-fuss landscape plant; elsewhere it grows well in a pot that can be moved under cover for winter. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual method for the true species: sow fresh seed on a warm, gritty surface and keep lightly moist until germination. Because A. striata hybridises so readily, seed from garden plants often does not come true, so growers wanting the pure species take seed from known, isolated parents. Clumping individuals can also be divided, and any offsets separated and rooted. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets.
Common problems
- Rot — from overwatering or a poorly draining mix, especially in winter; the base and lower leaves soften and brown.
- Loss of colour — insufficient light produces a flat, all-green rosette without the coral margins.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the leaf axils) and scale are the most common; watch also for aloe mite, which causes lumpy galled growth. See Pests and diseases.
- Hybridisation — unwanted crossing with nearby Aloe species can muddy seed-grown offspring.
See also
- Aloe — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Pests and diseases