Garden Aloes

winter blooming Aloes with yellow flowers (28)

Are you looking to add some yellow color to your waterwise garden in the winter? Here's a handy list of 28 Aloes that are good candidates.

Aloe aculeata

The inflorescences vary in number and size, from young to older plants, with younger plants only having one, but in older plants, it can form between three and four branches up to 4ft. Each raceme is long and narrow, gradually tapering towards the tip. Flowers can be solitary racemes or somewhat branched. Flowers are tubular in shape, 1.5 inches in length, and flattened downward helping distinguish this aloes from most other non-suckering, stemless South African Aloes. Some specimens are uniform in color while others bicolored, Colors are variable from red to orange to red and yellow, all the way to greenish yellow. The flowers are followed by seed that are carried in oblong, green capsules of approximately 6 mm long and 3 mm in diameter. read more

Aloe thraskii

In winter the orange and yellow flowers grow in short, compact, cylindrical racemes, on multi-branched inflorescences. Younger plants may only produce a single inflorescences while older ones can produce 3 to 4 inflorescences with 15 to 25 upright broadly-cylindrical erect racemes. Flowers are quite small and yellow in color, the flowers mouth tips are tinged green, stamens protrude from the flowers mouth and are orange in color. The flowers are yellow, with green tinged tips, and the anthers are orange, giving the flowers a bicolored look. read more

Aloe africana

The plants grow slowly and reach the flowering stage in 4 to 5 years. Bears deep orange buds that open to a light orange or yellow flower. Flowers mostly from mid to late winter, and early spring. The individual flowers are held in a downward inclination but uniquely turn upwards towards the tips. Its large raceme is erect and may be unbranched or have up to four branches, and has tubular flowers. They are are orange in bud and turn yellow just prior to opening from the bottom of the spike upwards. Young plants have flower stalks without branches, but older plants typically have one or more side branches, with exceptional plants having as many as four. These torch-like blooms are attractive to hummingbirds and compliment the grey green leaves, which are armed with many dark thorns. read more

Aloe alooides

Aloe alooides has beautiful upright 3 foot flower spikes of green buds open in winter to a nice bright yellow that matures to an orangey-brown. Up to five single racemes of small, bell-shaped flowers may grow in season from the leaf rosette of a thriving plant. The nectar inside the flowers is loved by birds & bees. read more

Aloe betsileensis

Flowers in winter are yellow are either solitary or have 1 or 2 branches that stand well above the leaves and hold many densely set, yellow flowers. Racemes are tight cylinders of very closely spaced flowers almost like on a corn cob. read more

Aloe broomii

The most notable feature of this plant is its odd inflorescence, where the flowers are hidden by the extended bracts, giving it a sinuous, snake-like appearance, hence its name. The flowers are pale greenish yellow and 20 - 25 mm long. It flowers during late winter to spring, and the seed ripens during summer. This Aloe develops a stunning, densely flowered, candle-like inflorescence, 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm), in which the buds and pale lemon flowers are covered by white long bracts. read more

Aloe conifera

It has an unbranched highly unusual inflorescences, rarely with l-2 branches that stands well above the leaves, about 50 cm tall appearing in winter. Flowers are bright yellow, fragrant, and densely packed onto a a simple, cylindrical raceme distinctly cone-like in appearance. read more

Aloe 'David Verity'

In mid to late winter appear branching bicolored flower spikes rising with tight pink buds in a spiraled pattern. The flowers darken to red before they begin opening a cream white to pale butter yellow from the bottom of the spike to the top. Eventually the flowers of Aloe 'David Verity' display both red and white colors at the same time. read more

Aloe dichotoma

The bright yellow flowers are borne in winter. Aloe dichotoma have their first flowers when they are about 20 to 30 years old. The flowers are branch panicles up to 30 cm tall from the base of the peduncle to the apex of the terminal of the raceme. They are bright canary yellow, held close to the leaves, at the tips of the branches, and are fairly short and carried erect. The flowers are rather short and rounded in shape and not nearly as showy as many other species of aloes. The young flower buds can be eaten and have a similar appearance and taste to asparagus. The flowers are bright yellow, tubular and about 1in long with orange stamens protruding from the mouth. The copious nectar of its blossoms draws birds and insects as well as baboons that can strip a tree of its flowers in a short time. read more

Aloe elegans

Aloe elegans blooms in winter and early spring. The conical heads of flowers appear on a few (2-4) branched inflorescence rising above the leaf tips. The flower color ranges from a pale yellow to orange-red and this selection, vegetatively produced, has pale mid-orange colored flowers. This plant's flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. read more

Aloe erinacea

During the winter Aloe erinacea produces flowers on solitary, usually unbranched stalks and only about a foot high or less. The flowers are tubular in shape, bright red in bud, but turn yellow after opening. Aloe erinacea produces nectar, and is therefore pollinated by birds as well as winged and crawling insects such as ants which are small enough to enter the flower tube in which the nectar is stored. It is also very slow to flower, and it's even rare in its native land for it to flower. read more

Aloe labworana

Aloe labworana puts up a spectacular, yellow flower in late autumn to winter on multibranched inflorescences. Rare Ugandan species with branching racemes ending in delicate, small, yellow flowers coming off laterally but pointing upright. read more

Aloe maculata

Aloe maculata is very variable but its distinctly flat-topped inflorescences and usually uniformly colored flowers distinguish it from most other spotted aloes occurring in the same area. Flowers are held in on a multi-branched inflorescence over a long period in summer. Flowers of A maculata 'saponaria' usually yellow, but color ranges widely from yellow and red to salmon-orange. Flowering can occur any time of year, but usually in mid-winter in southern California. This is a very pretty aloe when in flower, especially if one is not that attracted to the spiky form of most aloe flowers. Seeds are reputedly poisonous. read more

Aloe marlothii

In late fall to late winter the flowers of Aloe marlothii are held on racemes on a branched candelabra-shaped inflorescence, having up to 30 racemes (single spikes covered with individual flowers). The distinctively horizontal branches of large 4 foot tall & wide inflorescence is an easy way to distinguish this species from other aloes. The rosette produces a candelabra of tubular shaped flowers. Flower color varies a great deal, and ranges from yellow through orange (most common) to bright red. read more

Aloe microstigma

From it's rosette Aloe microstigma produces several unbranched (simple) inflorescences up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall. This plant is a beautiful aloe which usually produces two or three profuse, flower spikes simultaneously in early winter. The bicolored flowers are red in bud and open to orange and yellow orange. In some places, however, the buds and open flowers may be uniformly red or yellow. Noted sometimes for their bicolor look, the cheerful flowers brighten the dull winter landscape with their towering warm colors reminiscent of flames on candles. Flowers are tubular in shape and slightly swollen in the middle. read more

Aloe mutabilis

During Winter a simple branched inflorescence up to 90cm (roughly 3 feet) high, is borne with bi-colored flowers. The flowers of Aloe mutabilis change color as they mature, with the red-orange buds opening to display yellow flowers. The flowers of some forms of Aloe mutabilis are uniformly red. Aloe mutabilis flowers are also on short pedicils with flared petals. read more

Aloe petricola

This particular aloe is a flowering species with unique and distinct inflorescences, which make the plant easy to identify and distinguish from other Aloe plants. In mid to late winter appear the distinctly bicolored flowers, which are reddish orange in bud, opening to cream to pale yellow with faint green striped petals. In some forms though, the buds can be orange and the open flowers yellow. The inflorescences are tightly packed with dark brown anthers, and typically include at least two colors, usually a deep red towards the top where the buds are seen, and cream-yellow color at the bottom towards the base, reaching the stem of the flower. Inflorescences can reach about 4 feet, surpassing the height of the plant's fleshy leaves. In young plant there is just one inflorescence, while in older ones the inflorescence are 4-6. Flowers on the Aloe petricola plant are tube-shaped, about 30mm long and open from the bottom to the top. read more

Aloe ramosissima

The inflorescences of Aloe ramosissima are short and sparsely branched with fairly large, tubular yellow flowers. The bright yellow flowers produce nectar which are generally pollinated by bees and ants. When capsules dry out, the winged seeds are carried by the wind, often landing in bushes where they germinate, making full use of the shelter and shade. Aloe ramosissima blooms in winter but the first flowers won't be produced util plants are about 10 to 15 old. read more

Aloe arborescens

Flowers hang tightly on the inflorescences that rise 2 feet above the foliage from late fall into winter. The flowers of Aloe arborescens are deep orange, almost red; there are also pure yellow flowering forms of this aloe. The inflorescences are usually unbranched and conical with two or more arising from a single rosette. The large flower spikes bloom in Winter and will help brighten up a dull winter garden. read more

Aloe reynoldsii

This species blooms in mid winter to spring, with yellow to yellow-orange tubular flowers, slightly swollen at the base in a multi-branched, 2 foot tall inflorescence. The sparsely branched inflorescence, unlike most Aloes, is not a raceme (which is like a cluster of flowers), but instead a panicle. A panicle is an inflorescence that reminds one of an umbrella because of its shape. The flowers are almost all on the same layer which is curved like an umbrella. The flowers of Aloe reynoldsii are relatively small. Seed capsules are about 220 mm long and 100 mm in diameter. read more

Aloe 'Rooikappie'

When you see a photo of the inflorescence, you'll understand the name. The flowers at the tip of the flower stem are massed together in the shape of a hood. Mature plants seem to flower periodically all year round in mild climates but is especially prolific in the fall. Arizona and low desert locations will see this species stop blooming during the hottest summer months. Blooms lasts a long time-several weeks usually depending on your weather. Aloe 'Rooikappie' has an attractive flower spike that reaches 18 to 24 inches tall with many orange pendant bell shaped blooms near the top that later turn darker yellow. Flowers themselves are conical in shape and highly symmetrical while developing. read more

Aloe rupestris

What is remarkable about Aloe rupestris are its 1 or 2 candelabra-form inflorescences up to 1.25 meters (4 feet) tall above the leaf rosette that bear 6-15 or more erect, cylindrical racemes. In late winter to early spring appear the sturdy inflorescence bearing many bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers that start out as tight masses of bright yellow buds that burst open to become completely overshadowed by the brilliant orange-red, exerted stamens. When they open, bright reddish stamens extend far out, and give each raceme a fluffy 'bottlebrush' look. The blooms are not long lasting but an amazing display that looks more like a Banksia flower than an aloe when in full bloom. Aloe rupestris is probably the most fluorescent of all the tree aloe flowers. It looks like psychedelic bottle brush from a distance. The individual flowers begin as tight yellow buds that are packed densely on the racemes. read more

Aloe spicata

Aloe spicata flowers in late winter to early spring and are solitary, long, compact columnar racemes that cover about 70% of the length of the entire inflorescence. This Aloe may have up to five, one meter tall inflorescences per rosette. Aloe spicata is named after the shape of the inflorescence, which emerge as densely flowered spikes The flowers are brown-yellow and have a shaving brush appearance owing to the dense inflorescence and long stamens. The long unbranched racemes are covered with dense, sessile, yellow-green flowers which appear yellow-orange due to their bright orange prominent stamens. Flowers have a brownish nectar which attracts birds and insects. Multiple heads in bloom can be quite striking. The flowers open from the bottom up with a wave of orange exerted stamens and great quantities of sticky brownish nectar. read more

Aloe suzannae

Flowering is a rare event for Aloe suzannae with only maturing plants flowering (at least 20 to 30 years old), and that is infrequent (every 3-15 years). Blooming season is in late winter or early spring. The massive inflorescence which lasts for over a month is unbranched, and densely covered with ivory colored flowers that have yellow stamens. The campanulate shaped flowers are completely covering in length a stout tight spike to 5 feet tall rising above the foliage. It is exceptional in its genus in having nocturnal fragrant flowers, presumably pollinated by nocturnal animals such as bats and small lemurs. It has been observed in the wild with flowers open during the day. Kelly Griffin wrote about this plant in Madagascar, where he got to see a large number of very large plants growing, that this plant flowers both day and night, and pointed out that often repeated nocturnal flowering rule is a long-standing misconception. This plant is at least an unreliable flowerer. It can be years between flowering events for each plant. Some never seem to flower. Fortunately, a number of cultivated plants are now well established and have reached flowering size. read more

Aloe tauri

The inflorescence develops during winter as an unbranched, to 1 meter long, densely flowered spike. The flowers are sessile, short, bright yellow, and bell-like. The nectar of Aloe tauri is clear whereas the nectar of Aloe spicata is brown. read more

Aloe vacillans

Flowers on sparingly branched, very upright inflorescences are either yellow are red-orange. Flowering time of year varies a lot with some flowering in winter and other in summer or early fall. read more

Aloe vanbalenii

The flowers of Aloe vanbalenii are in late winter to early spring and are on sparsely branched, about 1 meter tall upright inflorescences, in tightly packed, conical racemes. The flower color varies, from different shades of yellow and orange, but is occasionally red. The flowers are tubular in shape, 30-40 mm long and attractive to nectar seeking birds and insects. read more

Aloe wickensii

The super cool bi-colored red and yellow flowers appear well above the leaves in branched racemes in winter with red buds opening to yellow flowers from the bottom of the inflorescence up. The inflorescence of Aloe wickensii is an erect panicle up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, bearing up to 8 racemes. read more

Aloes organized by flower color