Aloe ferox
Bitter aloe
Family AsphodelaceaeAlso called Cape aloe, Red aloe, Tap aloe
About
Aloe ferox, the bitter or Cape aloe, is a tall single-stemmed aloe of southern Africa. It is a source of bitter aloes, a purgative, and of a non-bitter gel used in cosmetics.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Not recorded. We have no source on whether this plant is safe for cats, dogs or other pets — that is not the same as safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked.
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Full sun, open position.
- Water
- Moderate watering with good drainage.
- Soil
- Sandy-loamy, well-drained soil.
- Propagation
- From seed or head cuttings.
- Mature size
- Up to about 3 m tall.
Field notes
Morphology
Grows to about 3 m. Thick, fleshy leaves in rosettes have reddish-brown marginal spines; young plants also have spiny leaf faces. Branched inflorescences hold orange or red flowers 0.6–1.2 m above the leaves. Appearance varies across its range.
Distribution & habitat
A near-continuous band from the Overberg and Swellendam across the Eastern Cape to southern KwaZulu-Natal, and north into the southern Free State and Lesotho, on rocky hills, grassy fynbos and Karoo margins.
Cultivation notes
Grown mainly from seed and head cuttings, spaced about 1 m apart; plants reach first harvest in 4–5 years. Prefers open sites in full sun, sandy loam, moderate water and good drainage.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- South Africa, Lesotho
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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