Garden Aloes

Aloe striata subsp. karasbergensis

Also Known As: Karasburg Coral Aloe, Aloe karasbergensis

Category: Single Head Stemless Aloes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9b - 11

Overview

Aloe striata subspecies karasbergensis is well known for its attractive rusty brown to bronze, leaf color, as well as beautiful and charismatic symmetrical leaf crowns. This low-growing, rosette-forming succulent grows to 2-3 feet tall by as wide with interesting pale gray glaucous leaves leaves and essentially no marginal teeth.

Description

Aloe striata subsp. karasbergensis is a relatively large, stemless species with very soft leaves, small marginal teeth, and very ornamental striations the length of each leaf. This is a slightly larger, longer leaved version of Aloe striata. It is also related to Aloe buhrii, but the leaves are soft and more curved and striated. Also similar to the Mbashe Aloe (Aloe reynoldsii). Though often solitary, with age this plant can form clumps from suckers at the base of the rosettes. Stems may reach up to 12 inches (30 cm), with old leaves that persist around the stem. Very broad leaves up to 60 cm tall and 1 meter wide are carried in beautifully symmetric, low-growing, rosettes. The leaves are pale blue-green, greyish-green to greyish-yellow, ovate-lanceolate, and very rigid to fleshy when turgid. The plant in itself, is very tough, and can survive often for several seasons without water, at which point the leaves turn a reddish color to protect the plant against the high intensity ultra violet sun rays, much in the same way as sun block on the human skin. The leaves also close inwardly to protect the young leaves from heat stress. The species grows well in cultivation and will even tolerate fairly high rainfall conditions, making it an adaptable species to a variety of environments. Large plants look very attractive.

Flowering

The slender 50-75 cm tall, multi-branched inflorescence holds dark pink to red flowers. Flowers multiple times a year but mainly in mid to late winter and flowers last up to three months. The flowers are reddish and short; the inflorescence is very densely branched and pyramidal. These flowers and flowering times differ from Aloe striata which flowers in late winter only, and has orange flowers on much less complex inflorescences. The flowers are tubular in shape with a slight basal swelling.

Origin / History

Karasbergensis is one of two less known, but equally striking, subspecies of Aloe striata. This species comes from the Great Karashberg Range in Northern Cape to South-Namibia, one of the most arid regions of South Africa. Plants have a preference for dry, hot desert to semi-desert conditions, and may be found in dry river beds, rocky hill slopes, and stony rugged mountainous areas, where they are sheltered among boulders and rock massifs. The specific epithet striata literally means ‘marked with lines’, a conspicuous characteristic seen on the leaves of all three subspecies. The subspecies name karasbergensis, refers to the great Karasberg Mountains in the south of Namibia, one of the places where it occurs. The plant was collected in October 1926 by well-known plant collector and botanical explorer, Neville Stuart Pillans (1884–1964) from Rosebank, Cape Town. Pillans decribed the plant when it flowered in his Rosebank garden in February 1928. This aloe is very similar to Coral Aloe (Aloe striata), found mostly to its south, and has historically been lumped with it, but differs in floral features as well as leaf color (gray not green). It was initially lumped in with Aloe striata (which, interestingly, has NO striations) but is now considered a separate species (and I think rightly so). This variety is not endangered.

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Care / Cultivation

This is a great South African species for cultivation in California. Does OK in full sun but appreciates some shade in extremely hot climates. When over irrigated or in heavy soils the leaves will split open and become vulnerable to rot. Tolerates heat and thrives in sun, though the leaves may end up somewhat bleached. As they are fairly adaptable, seeds grow quite easily, although the flowers are not so attractive as others. They do grow fairly large and specimens may be difficult to garden. Compared to Aloe striata it is a relatively slow grower. But once mature it is a beautiful specimen and often attracts comments due to its striking foliage.

Frost Tenderness

Considered hardy down near 20F if soils are fairly dry.

Use in the Garden

Karasburg Coral Aloe is from a very dry winter rainfall area in northwestern South Africa and Namibia, and very suitable for dry Mediterranean-type climates. Great for pot culture or in the dry garden.

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Learn More

The information on this page about Aloe striata subsp. karasbergensis has been gathered and summarized from the sources below. Visit these pages to learn more.

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