XGasteraloe beguinii
×Gasteraloe beguinii is a classic old intergeneric hybrid in the genus xGasteraloe, the result of a cross between a Gasteria and an Aloe. It is prized for its upright rosettes of dark green, lance-shaped leaves that are densely marked with raised white tubercles arranged in irregular, broken bands — a tidy, forgiving little plant that has been passed hand to hand among growers for generations.
Because it is a hybrid rather than a true species, ×Gasteraloe beguinii comes in several slightly different clones, and its care follows the same easy-going pattern as its parents (see Gasteria and Aloe, and the xGasteraloe genus page).
Description
×Gasteraloe beguinii forms a compact, clustering rosette of stiff, upright to gently spreading leaves. Each leaf is thick and fleshy, tapering to a firm point, and coloured a deep glossy green. The whole surface is studded with small, pale, raised tubercles that tend to run together into irregular transverse bands, giving the plant a speckled, cross-banded look that sits somewhere between the smooth tongues of a Gasteria and the toothed leaves of an Aloe.
The margins carry fine, soft teeth rather than the hard spines of many aloes. With age the plant offsets freely from the base to build a dense clump. When it flowers, it sends up a slender raceme of tubular, coral to orange-pink blooms that hint at its Gasteria parentage. Like many hybrids it is often shy to flower, and it is grown chiefly for its handsome, year-round foliage.
Cultivation
Care is as for the parent genera and is undemanding, which is a large part of this plant's enduring popularity. Grow it in bright, indirect light or a little gentle sun; deep shade will make the rosette loose and the markings fade, while very harsh sun can scorch the leaves. It tolerates lower light better than most true aloes, making it a dependable windowsill plant.
Plant in a free-draining mix with plenty of grit, and water only when the soil has dried out, easing right off through the cooler months. Keep it frost-free. As a hybrid it inherits the tough constitution of both parents and forgives the occasional missed watering far more readily than an overwatering. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
The easiest and most reliable method is by offsets: the plant clusters readily, and rooted pups can be teased away and potted up on their own. Individual leaves can sometimes be struck as cuttings, though they root more slowly and less certainly than offsets. Because it is a hybrid, seed does not come true and is rarely used; named clones are kept going vegetatively.
See also
- xGasteraloe — the hybrid genus overview
- Gasteria · Aloe — the parent genera
- Propagation — offsets · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Pests and diseases