Cape aloe (Aloe ferox)
Cape aloe (Aloe ferox) is a plant of succulent leaves that can grow 3m – 8m tall and 1.5m – 3m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Cape aloe (Aloe ferox).
This plant has several common names including: Cape aloe, bitter aloe or red aloe.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 5-10 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: Cape aloe, bitter aloe, red aloe
Scientific name: Aloe ferox
Plant type: Cactus / Succulent, Conservatory & Greenhouse
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 3m – 8m
Spread: 1.5m – 3m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Architectural, Patio & Container Garden, Sub-tropical
Other characteristics: Drought resistant
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Cape aloe (Aloe ferox) – iNaturalist.org (Di Turner) (Di%20Turner), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cacti and succulent plants are appreciated for their natural charm, mainly for their leaf shapes, but also in some cases for their colorful flowers in spring and summer.
They should be cultivated in areas that mimic the conditions in which they grow in nature, which are usually exposed places with stony and fast-draining soils.
These characteristics make them to be grown in pots.
Other types of Aloe to consider:
See all Aloe
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Cape aloe (Aloe ferox), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Cape aloe (Aloe ferox) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Aloe ferox likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Cape aloe (Aloe ferox) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Cape aloe (Aloe ferox) – Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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