Aloe: Erik The Red

[Hillizard]

After searching for some time, I finally picked up one of these 'Erik the Red' aloes at a small nursery in San Francisco that had a least a dozen of them. Was told the wholesaler/supplier in Florida may be going out of business? This variety was originally developed in South Africa (https://www.sunbirdaloes.co.za/sunbird-aloe/aloe-erik-the-red/ ) and when I contacted them directly they were very worried about U.S. nurseries ignoring their plant patents and so were hesitant to ship them overseas. 😜The 3-gal. size was a bit pricey, but it's already producing 4 offshoots at the base, so that's a bonus. This retail SF nursery will ship, but that isn't cheap. I think this variety will like conditions here in NorCal like my other Aloes. My Aloe 'Hercules' is now well over 6 ft. in height, but unbranched so far.

[Rivera]

3 hours ago, Hillizard said:

After searching for some time, I finally picked up one of these 'Erik the Red' aloes at a small nursery in San Francisco that had a least a dozen of them. Was told the wholesaler/supplier in Florida may be going out of business? This variety was originally developed in South Africa (https://www.sunbirdaloes.co.za/sunbird-aloe/aloe-erik-the-red/ ) and when I contacted them directly they were very worried about U.S. nurseries ignoring their plant patents and so were hesitant to ship them overseas. 😜The 3-gal. size was a bit pricey, but it's already producing 4 offshoots at the base, so that's a bonus. This retail SF nursery will ship, but that isn't cheap. I think this variety will like conditions here in NorCal like my other Aloes. My Aloe 'Hercules' is now well over 6 ft. in height, but unbranched so far.

Nice one!

Respect to the hybridizers, but an aloe patent is kind of a joke considering how easy most of them are to propagate.

Seems inevitable that they get out there like all the mangave varieties have. 

[Hillizard]

1 hour ago, Rivera said:

Nice one!

Respect to the hybridizers, but an aloe patent is kind of a joke considering how easy most of them are to propagate.

Seems inevitable that they get out there like all the mangave varieties have. 

I have no experience with plant hybridization, incl. with Aloes or mangaves, but apparently it was a complicated process that took some time, effort and selection choice to develop 'Eric The Red,' based on what I've read:

"Aloe 'Erik the Red' is a complex hybrid involving Aloe mawii, which contributed its dark red color combined with A. petricola, A. marlothii (red form) and A. arborescens." (https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3734)

So I can understand how the hybridizer wanted to limit its distribution. I'm looking forward  to flowers on mine next year, since it bloomed at the nursery where I got it earlier this year.

[Randall SD]

I also had been searching for an Erik The Red aloe for quite a few years. I saw a fairly large one a few years back at nursery about 30 miles from here but it was priced well above what I was willing to pay. Last fall I finally found some in stock at a local San Diego nursery. They had about 10 in 5 gallon containers. Still a little pricey but I couldn't resist taking one home. No offshoots yet but it did have a small bloom last February. I can't wait for it to gain some size.

[Hillizard]

50 minutes ago, Randall SD said:

I also had been searching for an Erik The Red aloe for quite a few years. I saw a fairly large one a few years back at nursery about 30 miles from here but it was priced well above what I was willing to pay. Last fall I finally found some in stock at a local San Diego nursery. They had about 10 in 5 gallon containers. Still a little pricey but I couldn't resist taking one home. No offshoots yet but it did have a small bloom last February. I can't wait for it to gain some size.

Yours may put its energy into producing more blooms and not offshoots, so that's something you can enjoy!

[Peter]

Just keep your eye out for aloe mite;  Erik seems to be a magnet.   I've had mine for at least 10 years now-they are about 5' with several heads.  The blooms are spectacular, and quite long lasting.  It's not the most attractive aloe out of flower imho, but it's not bad, and the blooms are overcompensators...

[Hillizard]

Peter: Thanks for your advice on mites and your impression of the blooms! So far, the worst any of my succulents get are aphid infestations each spring.

[Tracy]

On 6/17/2023 at 1:45 AM, Rivera said:

Nice one!

Respect to the hybridizers, but an aloe patent is kind of a joke considering how easy most of them are to propagate.

Seems inevitable that they get out there like all the mangave varieties have. 

I was thinking the same thing.  After pondering at more length, I wonder if the flowering season was the same for this hybridization or if it required storing pollen for one of the crosses.   That might make it much more intentional and challenging.   

I have at least a couple of natural occurring hybrids in my garden thanks to bees and hummingbirds visiting different species flowers. 

[Rivera]

7 hours ago, Tracy said:

I was thinking the same thing.  After pondering at more length, I wonder if the flowering season was the same for this hybridization or if it required storing pollen for one of the crosses.   That might make it much more intentional and challenging.   

I have at least a couple of natural occurring hybrids in my garden thanks to bees and hummingbirds visiting different species flowers. 

Yes, I didn't mean to devalue someone else's work. It was just my first reaction. 

[Tracy]

5 hours ago, Rivera said:

Yes, I didn't mean to devalue someone else's work. It was just my first reaction. 

Not meant to detract from your comment,  more of an observation that some crosses are more challenging than others.   My friend George Sparkman was selling a triple cross he called Species XXX, which was marlothii × (arborescens yellow flower × thraskii).  I never got one but am sure there are some out there.  It shares two of the species with Eric the Red.

[Rivera]

1 hour ago, Tracy said:

Not meant to detract from your comment,  more of an observation that some crosses are more challenging than others.   My friend George Sparkman was selling a triple cross he called Species XXX, which was marlothii × (arborescens yellow flower × thraskii).  I never got one but am sure there are some out there.  It shares two of the species with Eric the Red.

Lots of possibilities. I don't think I have any aloe with such complex lineage. 

I did pick up a seedling white flowered Aloe ferox x Aloe marlothii "Utrecht." Curious to see how that turns out. If I remember right, the grower had brought some to maturity and said the flowers can be mixed white and red, like peppermint, but who knows? I'm not counting on it. It's still tiny.

[tinman10101]

very nice @Hillizard.  i have been following aloe hybridization for some time and have always been attracted to the south african hybrid growers.  mainly sunbird aloes (https://www.sunbirdaloes.co.za/) as you mentioned .  when i first found out about them about 12 years ago, i knew that they were slowly trickling their hybrids to australia.  unfortunately, they never made it to the states until the past few years but they have some of the most vibrant and exuberant colors i have ever seen.  

in any case, i don't really know the hybridization politics and permits involved internationally but you are correct that erik the red stems from a hybrid from sunbird aloes in za.  so hopefully over time, we will see more of these za aloe hybrids make its way to the states.  another za aloe hybrider i follow is andy de wet from the aloe farm (https://www.thealoefarm.co.za/).  my obsession with aloe hybrids has dithered over the past few years.   i remember my amazement and awe when i first discovered these sites.  below is a pic of andy de wet at the aloe farm in za that blew my mind years ago.  

btw aloe moonglow would probably be one of my favorite hybrids.  i do believe credit should be given where credit is due and it takes time and patience to create some of these hybrids.  unfortunately, it muddles the gene pool and i have seen some plant species that are so muddled now that true species will be the rare instead of the norm.  but everything in moderation, right? 🤣

enjoy your erik the red ... 😁

not my pic. 

[epiphyte]

the biggest problem with aloe hybridization in africa is that it isn't influenced by hummingbirds.  the logical solution is to introduce hummingbirds to africa.

out of all my aloe hybrids, i can only take credit for 1 of them... tenuior x hercules (?).  the rest were made either by hummingbirds or bees.  whenever an aloe refuses to be pollinated by hummingbirds, i throw it out the car window onto the side of the freeway.  

the hummingbirds probably deserve credit for delta lights x arborescens (?), one of the seedlings turned out pretty nice.  but so far my fav fav hybrid, that i can't take any credit for, is bakeri x ?.  it is responsible for around 90% of the aloe seeds that i've sown.  one of the seedlings looks like its father was striata.  it bloomed for the 1st time this winter... 3 times.  several pods were produced and i recently sowed some of the seeds.

 

[Hillizard]

On 6/21/2023 at 8:58 AM, tinman10101 said:

very nice @Hillizard.  i have been following aloe hybridization for some time and have always been attracted to the south african hybrid growers.  mainly sunbird aloes (https://www.sunbirdaloes.co.za/) as you mentioned .  when i first found out about them about 12 years ago, i knew that they were slowly trickling their hybrids to australia.  unfortunately, they never made it to the states until the past few years but they have some of the most vibrant and exuberant colors i have ever seen.  

in any case, i don't really know the hybridization politics and permits involved internationally but you are correct that erik the red stems from a hybrid from sunbird aloes in za.  so hopefully over time, we will see more of these za aloe hybrids make its way to the states.  another za aloe hybrider i follow is andy de wet from the aloe farm (https://www.thealoefarm.co.za/).  my obsession with aloe hybrids has dithered over the past few years.   i remember my amazement and awe when i first discovered these sites.  below is a pic of andy de wet at the aloe farm in za that blew my mind years ago.  

btw aloe moonglow would probably be one of my favorite hybrids.  i do believe credit should be given where credit is due and it takes time and patience to create some of these hybrids.  unfortunately, it muddles the gene pool and i have seen some plant species that are so muddled now that true species will be the rare instead of the norm.  but everything in moderation, right? 🤣

enjoy your erik the red ... 😁

not my pic. 

Great post Tin! Thanks for supplying some more background on the source of these Aloe cultivars. It's a good thing I have so many other types of plants, esp. palms, or I might try and fill up my backyard with more of these Aloes!

[Hillizard]

2 hours ago, epiphyte said:

the biggest problem with aloe hybridization in africa is that it isn't influenced by hummingbirds.  the logical solution is to introduce hummingbirds to africa.

out of all my aloe hybrids, i can only take credit for 1 of them... tenuior x hercules (?).  the rest were made either by hummingbirds or bees.  whenever an aloe refuses to be pollinated by hummingbirds, i throw it out the car window onto the side of the freeway.  

the hummingbirds probably deserve credit for delta lights x arborescens (?), one of the seedlings turned out pretty nice.  but so far my fav fav hybrid, that i can't take any credit for, is bakeri x ?.  it is responsible for around 90% of the aloe seeds that i've sown.  one of the seedlings looks like its father was striata.  it bloomed for the 1st time this winter... 3 times.  several pods were produced and i recently sowed some of the seeds.

 

I suspect you were being facetious, but there are abundant African animals (birds, insects and occasionally mammals) that have roles in Aloe pollination!

"These [Aloe] traits suggest specialist nectarivorous bird (e.g. sunbirds (Nectariniidae) and sugarbirds (Promeropidae), generalist (opportunistic) nectar-feeding birds (e.g. weavers (Ploceidae), thrushes (Muscicapidae), white-eyes (Zosteropidae), etc.), or insect (e.g. halictid, allodapine and honeybees) pollination. Floral colour, nectar, and pollen rewards are the most important attractants for these visitors (both predicted and unexpected), and nearly all aloes are self incompatible and reliant on pollen vectors for successful pollen transfer."

https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/items/0b36fabb-3de6-4876-87b8-5be49a40b651

[epiphyte]

6 hours ago, Hillizard said:

I suspect you were being facetious, but there are abundant African animals (birds, insects and occasionally mammals) that have roles in Aloe pollination!

i was being 100% sincere.  you're correct that there's currently a diverse selection of animals responsible for pollinating aloes in africa.  but are these pollinators too diverse?

right now there are quite a few aloe hybridizers.  but are these people too diverse?  

the guy in south africa focuses on pretty aloe flowers, while the lady at the huntington focuses on pretty aloe plants.  this is adequate hybridizer diversity?  nope, at least not from my perspective.  

everybody is different, so each new person who hybridizes aloes will take them in a different direction. 

hybridizer diversity -> aloe diversity

pollinator diversity -> aloe diversity

[Silas_Sancona]

7 hours ago, Hillizard said:

I suspect you were being facetious, but there are abundant African animals (birds, insects and occasionally mammals) that have roles in Aloe pollination!

"These [Aloe] traits suggest specialist nectarivorous bird (e.g. sunbirds (Nectariniidae) and sugarbirds (Promeropidae), generalist (opportunistic) nectar-feeding birds (e.g. weavers (Ploceidae), thrushes (Muscicapidae), white-eyes (Zosteropidae), etc.), or insect (e.g. halictid, allodapine and honeybees) pollination. Floral colour, nectar, and pollen rewards are the most important attractants for these visitors (both predicted and unexpected), and nearly all aloes are self incompatible and reliant on pollen vectors for successful pollen transfer."

https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/items/0b36fabb-3de6-4876-87b8-5be49a40b651

  Yep, Nature provided all the pollinators to fill the role of Aloe pollination there... Absolutely  no  need to introduce a different bird / birds,  from a completely different continent  to accomplish some questionable, highly miss- guided, and solely human driven objective.

Edited June 23, 2023 by Silas_Sancona
edit

[daxin]

Home Depot had Aloe Erik the Red in 5g & 15g for a number of years before COVID. I bought a 5g for less than $20 in November 2017. Maybe because they were not in bloom at that time, there were 6 or 8 of them, just sitting there. I hope whoever grew those will resume production.

Unfortunately, I have heard that San Marcos Growers will be closing permanently soon, so it’s time to special-order the other Leo Thamm Hybrids if interested 

[Silas_Sancona]

8 minutes ago, daxin said:

 

Unfortunately, I have heard that San Marcos Growers will be closing permanently soon, so it’s time to special-order the other Leo Thamm Hybrids if interested 

Any additional info on this??

[Darold Petty]

I know nothing about Aloe plants.  If I planted an Erik would I be able to move it to a second location after 3-5 years?

[Rivera]

3 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

I know nothing about Aloe plants.  If I planted an Erik would I be able to move it to a second location after 3-5 years?

Darold - I'm inexperienced with this particular aloe but aloes in general are very good candidates for transplantation, especially Aloe arborescens which is purported to be a genetic contributor to Erik.

I've transplanted many smaller aloes with little to no noticeable setback.

Considering your ambitious (and successful) transplant feats of the past, I'd say you can take this on without fear. 🤙

[Darold Petty]

Thanks, Chris !  

[Peter]

Easy as pie to transplant an aloe-can be done anytime of year as well

[Darold Petty]

Thanks, Peter !

[Hillizard]

On 6/16/2023 at 1:24 PM, Hillizard said:

After searching for some time, I finally picked up one of these 'Erik the Red' aloes at a small nursery in San Francisco that had a least a dozen of them. Was told the wholesaler/supplier in Florida may be going out of business? This variety was originally developed in South Africa (https://www.sunbirdaloes.co.za/sunbird-aloe/aloe-erik-the-red/ ) and when I contacted them directly they were very worried about U.S. nurseries ignoring their plant patents and so were hesitant to ship them overseas. 😜The 3-gal. size was a bit pricey, but it's already producing 4 offshoots at the base, so that's a bonus. This retail SF nursery will ship, but that isn't cheap. I think this variety will like conditions here in NorCal like my other Aloes. My Aloe 'Hercules' is now well over 6 ft. in height, but unbranched so far.

I repotted this Aloe, left all its side shoots in place and today discovered a developing inflorescence on the main plant! I just hope this area has a mild winter so I'll have flowers from this hybrid in a few months!!

[Peter]

I noticed some buds on a few of mine yesterday as well-early this year!

[Hillizard]

On 12/4/2023 at 2:04 PM, Hillizard said:

I repotted this Aloe, left all its side shoots in place and today discovered a developing inflorescence on the main plant! I just hope this area has a mild winter so I'll have flowers from this hybrid in a few months!!

Here's my 'Erik the Red' Aloe inflorescence now fully developed. My only disappointment is that the neighborhood hummingbirds haven't yet found it!

[Peter]

Mine are just finishing; I went back and checked and they've been showy since mid January, easily the longest lasting aloe blooms I have.

[richard91006]

On 6/16/2023 at 9:18 PM, Randall SD said:

I also had been searching for an Erik The Red aloe for quite a few years. I saw a fairly large one a few years back at nursery about 30 miles from here but it was priced well above what I was willing to pay. Last fall I finally found some in stock at a local San Diego nursery. They had about 10 in 5 gallon containers. Still a little pricey but I couldn't resist taking one home. No offshoots yet but it did have a small bloom last February. I can't wait for it to gain some size.

Hi, which nursery in San Diego did you see "Aloe Erik the Red"?  Thanks.

[Randall SD]

It was Walter Andersen Nursery downtown. That was a couple of years back so I'm not sure if they have any now.

[richard91006]

6 hours ago, Randall SD said:

It was Walter Andersen Nursery downtown. That was a couple of years back so I'm not sure if they have any now.

Thanks!

[Hillizard]

As a reliable harbinger of spring I noticed my daffodils are emerging from the soil....

,,, but it's also this indication on my Erik the Red Aloe that has me thinking this year I may get a branched floral shoot! I plan to cut off and root all the offsets on this plant.

[Silas_Sancona]

  You're not the only one already seeing signs of spring this year..

Walking the yard this morning, found some of the Desert Bluebells ( Phacelia campanularia ) that managed to come up this year in bloom  ..on the 1st  day of ..January... and others already well into the budding stage of development.





Looking over shots from the last several years, earliest i can see that i've caught them flowering is ..Jan. 18-20th.. with the 1st of Feb. being a rough average start date..

Checked them also and no buds starting to form on the Beavertails  ..yet..  ..but,  if the Phacelia  are already starting to pop, the Beavertails could start doing their thing shortly.

Brittlebush at the old house are well on their way to flowering soon too..


🤔  Pretty interesting start to what could be an interesting year ahead perhaps???..

[Cape Garrett]

On 6/17/2023 at 12:18 AM, Randall SD said:

I also had been searching for an Erik The Red aloe for quite a few years. I saw a fairly large one a few years back at nursery about 30 miles from here but it was priced well above what I was willing to pay. Last fall I finally found some in stock at a local San Diego nursery. They had about 10 in 5 gallon containers. Still a little pricey but I couldn't resist taking one home. No offshoots yet but it did have a small bloom last February. I can't wait for it to gain some size.

How well is this one growing for you?  I heard it can become a small tree.  I have very small ones in 5 inch pots so will be a while before I see any flowers.  May plant it out this Spring.

[Randall SD]

On 1/28/2025 at 11:51 AM, Cape Garrett said:

How well is this one growing for you?  I heard it can become a small tree.  I have very small ones in 5 inch pots so will be a while before I see any flowers.  May plant it out this Spring.

It's been growing nicely and gaining size. Last year there were two branched inflorescence spikes, this year it has three. 

01/28/2025

[Cape Garrett]

Very nice.  Seems fast.  I ended up planting mine out today.  Probably be a couple years for flowers but look forward to it.  Yours looks fantastic. Is it popping for you yet?  1 of my little ones has an offset.

[Randall SD]

1 hour ago, Cape Garrett said:

Very nice.  Seems fast.  I ended up planting mine out today.  Probably be a couple years for flowers but look forward to it.  Yours looks fantastic. Is it popping for you yet?  1 of my little ones has an offset.

No, unfortunately it hasn't produced any pups yet. Good luck with your newly planted babies!