Spiral aloes/Aloe polyphylla enjoying the summer

[XYZ]

Greetings:

A notoriously challenging, cool-growing aloe species from the Drakensberg in South Africa that grows surprisingly well in downtown San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area as well as in central London!! This is one that frustrates a lot of skilled California succulent gardeners south of Monterey, and a nice specimen plant in the US is a rare critter outside of this immediate area.

I've been playing around with this species for just over two years, but have only recently (fingers crossed!) learned how to grow them well enough to post a photo of a planting we did last fall, into the sharp teeth of a very challenging winter. Hence some brown-tipping evident in these photos. Rather counterintuitively for a stem succulent, these plants require a bright spot, warm days and cool nights, a very well-drained growing medium coupled with lots of cool water going over their roots on almost a daily basis. Can take temps well below freezing. Several of the plants shown are quite decent-sized, but have not started to spiral yet; for those not familiar with it, a quick Google search will reveal what all the fuss is about it. A well-grown large one in flower is an amazing piece of botanical art, so I'm looking forward to these putting on some size this year. Am looking for a trio of decent-sized ones whose price won't leave me bleeding from any orifices to add to these original plants.

Haven't killed one yet, but I have a couple other maladapted small plants that are still in potted rehab so still not fully convinced that I know what I'm doing ;^)

Cheers,

Jay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gonzer]

Stoney, I tried 2 of them a few years ago and have never seen a plant do a Salvador Dali impression so quick. You could watch it melt before your eyes. Yours look great. I noticed that they're planted on almost level ground. I was under the impression that planting on a slope or incline was the accepted way. Regardless, you SHOULD be proud as that plant will challenge the best hobbyist.

[PalmatierMeg]

What a beautiful agave species! Of course, I have no chance of growing it.

[Jdiaz31089]

8 minutes ago, PalmatierMeg said:

What a beautiful agave species! Of course, I have no chance of growing it.

It's an aloe! haha Very beautiful in person, but oh so picky about growing conditions. 

[XYZ]

Thanks, Gonzer. They actually have slight depressions under each to assist it overhead water catchment since not on drip. There is, however, three solid feet of new, amended, super well-drained fill under them. I also do the perhaps useless (but costly!) streptomyces innoculations via drenches every three months as well, in addition to lighting votive candles for their welfare.

Completely forgot that I have pics of a pair of nice larger ones that have spiraled growing at an acquaintance's cycad and succulent garden about a mile from here. I'll try and add them on Monday.

[msporty]

Awesome plants!!!

I read somewhere that there are more A. polyphyllas growing in Santa Cruz than in habitat. I imagine SF would be an ideal gowing climate as well.

 

Also, those two plants are already spiraling! The first is clockwise and the second is counterclockwise. It's easiest to see if you look just outside of the main center. 

[Kim]

Will the spiral become more visually pronounced as they grow?  I have only seen the plant once in real life, but photos usually show this crazy hypnotizing spiral.

A friend got seed and has his kids involved in a project to germinate and grow them up for sale. He's got them totally locked into caring for them, but I haven't heard an update for awhile. I will have to ask if they are still thriving.  Such cool plants!

[XYZ]

These are a nice pair growing nearby that I mentioned on Friday that are fully spiraled. These are older photos of them; still there, I understand, but "bigger".

Kind of bizarre to see them growing as specimens next to sidewalks in SF and as white picket fence plants down on the Peninsula.

 

 

 

 

[Palm Tree Jim]

Amazing!!