Aloe capitata var. quartziticola
Category: Single Head Stemless Aloes
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Overview
Aloe capitata var. quartziticola is a decorative stemless aloe from Madagascar that is stunning when in bloom. This Aloe forms a beautiful open rosette of fleshy, tapered, gray-green leaves, up to 18 in. long (45 cm).Description
In mid-winter appear the up to 3 foot tall inflorescences top with dense 4 inch long spherical capitate racemes of orange buds on reddish pedicles that open to display orange-yellow 1 inch long narrow bell shaped flowers that open first from near the top. The fleshy tapered leaves can grow up to 2' across and are a milky blue-gray color under less sunny conditions, becoming purple-tinged with stronger sun. They are lined with small, triangular, dark red teeth. This single-headed plant has stemless rosettes to 2 feet across (.6 m).
Flowering
The plant is striking even without any flowers, but the flowers are a fantastic addition, having a vivid orange color as buds, turning to yellow when they open. Each branch is topped with a rounded head of flowers, tubular at the bud stage and widening at the mouth when they open to become narrowly bell-shaped. Unlike most other species of Aloe, this one’s flowers do not necessarily open in sequence from bottom to top, often starting somewhere in between. The long pedicels (the stalks of the individual flowers) are reddish. The rounded heads of flowers look like pom-poms.Origin / History
In its native Central Highlands of Madagascar, Aloe capitata var. quartziticola grows on quartzite at altitudes of up to 1600 m (over 5,000 ft.).
Care / Cultivation
Plant in full to part sun to light shade in a well-drained soil and give occasional to infrequent irrigation.Frost Tenderness
This aloe is hardier than most Malagasy aloes and is hardy to short duration temperatures down to 25°F (-6 C). Unlike most of the species of Aloe found in Madagascar, this Aloe can endure freezing spells when planted on slopes where the cold air does not collect.Use in the Garden
According to Curator Brian Kemble, 'Madagascar has many beautiful Aloe species, but to my eye this is one of the very best.'Read about more Aloes that can be used as a focal points in your garden.
Learn More
The information on this page about Aloe capitata var. quartziticola has been gathered and summarized from the sources below. Visit these pages to learn more.
- https://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=3726
- https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=4019
- https://www.gardenia.net/plant/Aloe-capitata-var-quartziticola
- https://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/plants/aloe-capitata-var-quartziticola/
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