Aloidendron species, dichotomum or ramosissimum?

[Tracy]

We were out for a walk around San Elijo Lagoon this morning and decided to extend the walk into the adjacent neighborhood in Solana Beach.  I have seen the Aloidendron pictured below but thought I would solicit opinions on the correct species.  The leaves seem somewhat small for Aloidendron dichotomum, but more pointed and less rounded leaf tips than I expect from Aloidendron ramosissimum.  Sometimes I wonder if there are intermediate specimens which are hybrids of the two.

A neighbor was out in his yard a couple of houses down who I stopped to chat with because he had some nice plantings.   I asked him if he knew which species his neighbor had, but he didn't. Perhaps I will meet the owner on a future walk and get the back story on how long he has had it in the ground and what size it was when planted.

 

Edited July 3, 2022 by Tracy

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Tracy said:

We were out for a walk around San Elijo Lagoon this morning and decided to extend the walk into the adjacent neighborhood in Solana Beach.  I have seen the Aloidendron pictured below but thought I would solicit opinions on the correct species.  The leaves seem somewhat small for Aloidendron dichotomum, but more pointed and less rounded leaf tips than I expect from Aloidendron ramosissimum.  Sometimes I wonder if there are intermediate specimens which are hybrids of the two.

A neighbor was out in his yard a couple of houses down who I stopped to chat with because he had some nice plantings.   I asked him if he knew which species his neighbor had, but he didn't. Perhaps I will meet the owner on a future walk and get the back story on how long he has had it in the ground and what size it was when planted.

 

Definitely A. dichotomum ..or A. dicho. mixed w/ another big Aloidendron sp...   No A. ram.  specimen would come close to that height.

[Tracy]

19 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Definitely A. dichotomum ..or A. dicho. mixed w/ another big Aloidendron sp...   No A. ram.  specimen would come close to that height.

Thank you for the input Nathan.  I am curious to find out how long it takes for them to gain this size and what size this one was when planted.  It is a spectacular specimen.  I was also encouraged to see it growing close to the coast like this.  It is probably another 500 to 700 meters further inland than my garden and definitely at a higher elevation, but still heavily influenced by the marine layer conditions.  I have some hope for mine surviving.  While nowhere near as fast as my Aloe Hercules (thank goodness), mine seem to grow year round for me here.  I won't be disappointed if it takes a long time for this one to gain significant girth as I have a number of equally prized plants in it's neighborhood.

[Silas_Sancona]

33 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Thank you for the input Nathan.  I am curious to find out how long it takes for them to gain this size and what size this one was when planted.  It is a spectacular specimen.  I was also encouraged to see it growing close to the coast like this.  It is probably another 500 to 700 meters further inland than my garden and definitely at a higher elevation, but still heavily influenced by the marine layer conditions.  I have some hope for mine surviving.  While nowhere near as fast as my Aloe Hercules (thank goodness), mine seem to grow year round for me here.  I won't be disappointed if it takes a long time for this one to gain significant girth as I have a number of equally prized plants in it's neighborhood.

Thinking ..as long as they're happy, they can grow at a " decent " clip, though definitely not as fast as Hercules or barbarae can..  Know that younger plants are ok w/ some summer water, while bigger specimens want less of it- That said,  as demonstrated via specimens here, big specimens seem to do fine w/ the occasional soaking in the summer,  as long as the soil they're in drains well.  

If your neighbors is doing well, yours should be fine.. If you speak w/ them, also curious how long it has been grown in that person's yard/ what size they started with.