Seeking SMALL Aloe 'Hercules' - Florida or California

[Josh76]

Hello fellow PalmTalkers,

I am based in the UK and there has been some excitement recently about Aloe 'Hercules' plants surviving our winters with a little protection. It certainly seems that this hybrid is pretty hardy and will grow even without high summer temps. Unfortunately there is no source of plants in the UK or Europe but I will be in Florida next week and California in April so I was wondering if any of you either have small plants I could buy or know of a source of small plants. From what I understand, it's pretty tough to grow from cuttings - but if any members were able to give me some cutting material I would gladly give that a try!

I've seen that San Marcos growers are micro-propagating Aloe 'Hercules' but I'm confused as to where/how to buy plants from them. If I could get really small micro-propagated plants it would be ideal as I could easily fit several into my suitcase and distribute them to others in the UK. Does anyone know where the San Marcos plants get distributed to? Can I find tiny Aloe 'Hercules' in the box stores like Home Depot etc?

On another note, does anyone have experience of Aloe 'Goliath' handling cold temps... and if so, the same questions above apply about where to source small plants.

Thanks for looking!

Josh

Edited February 3, 2017 by Josh76

[necturus]

I can tell you that I lost one after a night that got down into the low 20s and stayed below freezing for over 12 hours. It was on a patio with overhead coverage but was otherwise unprotected. I probably didn't grow it as hard as I should have. My parents had a number of aloes and other even more sensitive succulents in an unheated greenhouse that sailed through the freeze just fine, so indeed with protection it might do alright for you.

[Josh76]

Just bumping this up to the top. Anyone know of a good source? Thanks 

[Jdiaz31089]

http://aridlandswholesale.com/oscommerce/index.php?cPath=25_249

 

Aridlands Glasshouses has a dizzying number of varieties and they ship. I didn't see Hercules, but they do have Goliath, dichotoma, and pretty much every other species of aloe known to man. 

[Josh76]

Thanks @Jdiaz31089. I checked with them and they have no small Hercules. Will keep looking though! Cheers :D

[Hillizard]

I got two 1-gal.-size Aloe 'Hercules' in Berkeley from http://cactusjungle.com/plants/aloe-hercules-a-bainesii-x-dichotoma/ last year. I've kept one potted and the other planted outside on a high berm (for enhanced drainage) with a southern exposure . It's had some burn on the leaf tips this winter when temps dipped below freezing, but otherwise it looks fine. 

[Josh76]

Thanks @Hillizard - I'll check with them to see if they have any small plants. What sort of lows did you see this last winter?

[Hillizard]

Josh: If I remember correctly there were fewer than 4 days this winter were the temps dropped to ~ -1.1 Celsius. I threw frost cloth over the berm some nights and didn't bother on others. There's a small Bismarckia nobilis next to the Aloe and it looks fine, including its spear leaf. Forecast lows for the next 10 days will range from 1.6-7.2 Celsius (35-45 deg.F) and the Aloe should be OK.  Good luck in your search!

[Josh76]

Hi all. I fly to California on Monday so this is my last, desperate attempt to find small (1g) Aloe Hercules plants. I've contacted every nursery I could find online but none of them have small ones available. HELP!  

[Hillizard]

2 hours ago, Josh76 said:

Hi all. I fly to California on Monday so this is my last, desperate attempt to find small (1g) Aloe Hercules plants. I've contacted every nursery I could find online but none of them have small ones available. HELP!  

Josh: I just checked via phone with http://cactusjungle.com/plants/aloe-hercules-a-bainesii-x-dichotoma/ in Berkeley (California, Bay Area) and they do have several of these plants in stock as of today (3.25.17), in 1-gal., for $19.95 each. Hope this helps. Have a nice trip!

[Josh76]

24 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Josh: I just checked via phone with http://cactusjungle.com/plants/aloe-hercules-a-bainesii-x-dichotoma/ in Berkeley (California, Bay Area) and they do have several of these plants in stock as of today (3.25.17), in 1-gal., for $19.95 each. Hope this helps. Have a nice trip!

Wow - you're incredible @Hillizard! I emailed them and never got a response. Thanks so much... I'll call them and reserve them 

[Hillizard]

ICYMI, Logee's now has this Aloe for sale: http://www.logees.com/tree-aloe-hercules-aloe-hybrid.html for $19.95. They only ship within U.S. though.

[Merlyn]

Bump for any new sources for the Hercules hybrid.  I checked Logee's and didn't find it :

https://www.logees.com/tree-aloe-hercules-aloe-hybrid.html

The only other place I've found it is Cactus King and Matt's Landscape:

https://thecactusking.com/plants/african-succulents/aloe-barberae-x-dichotoma

http://mattslandscape.com/detail/?plant_name=Aloe%20hercules

I read that there is a seller on Facebook in "Planet Aloe" group that is selling 2" pots for $15, but I haven't found them yet.  Other locations that may have them are:

http://mattslandscape.com/detail/?plant_name=Aloe%20hercules#full_desc

http://www.cactusconsortium.com/corona/coronacactus_shop/product.php?productID=366

http://aridlandswholesale.com

http://www.cycads-n-palms.com/otherplants.htm

 

[Hillizard]

https://www.plantstandaz.com/products/aloe-hercules lists A. 'hercules' but you need to call to see if they have any in stock. Good luck!

[Merlyn]

In case anyone is still looking for small Aloe "Hercules," I bought a couple of small 3" size pots from an Etsy seller called "SteadfastGardens."  They were $14ea and free shipping with 2 or more.  At the moment they are out of stock, but their stock changes on a fairly frequent basis:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SteadfastGardens/items