...which of these aloes is the prettiest of all?
Mirror mirror on the wall, which of these aloes is the prettiest of all?
"All of them," would be a good answer. Or, "that changes daily." Or, "depends on the mood I'm in."
My answer is even more diplomatic: I'll let you be the judge!
Below are most of the aloes in our garden that are in bloom, very close, or at the tail end.
Winter is my least favorite season (no hesitation there), but these aloes make it bearable.
© Gerhard Bock, 2019. All rights reserved. No part of the materials available through www.succulentsandmore.com may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of Gerhard Bock. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States and international copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Gerhard Bock.
If you are reading this post on a website other than www.succulentsandmore.com, please be advised that that site is using my content without my permission. Please report such unlawful use to me at gerhard[AT]succulentsandmore[DOT]com. Thank you!
"All of them," would be a good answer. Or, "that changes daily." Or, "depends on the mood I'm in."
My answer is even more diplomatic: I'll let you be the judge!
Below are most of the aloes in our garden that are in bloom, very close, or at the tail end.
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| Aloe marlothii, flowering for the first time ever. It looks like the flowers will be more yellow than red, which is what I was hoping for. |
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| Aloe marlothii |
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| Aloe 'Tangerine', a hybrid between Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens. Flowering for the first time as well. It's been a fast grower for me. |
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| Aloe excelsa, almost there |
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| Aloe arborescens 'Variegata'. It flowers every year. The huge clump of regular Aloe arborescens behind it is much older and has never produced even a single flower. I'm very close to replacing it with another shrubby aloe that is more floriferous. |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 1 of 3 |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 1 of 3 |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' |
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| Aloe excelsa, Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 1 of 3 |
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| Aloe ferox |
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| Aloe ferox (and Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea') in sunshine |
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| LEFT: Aloe petricola almost done flowering RIGHT: Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 2 of 3 |
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| Aloe petricola |
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| LEFT: Aloe petricola RIGHT: Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 2 of 3 |
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| LEFT: Aloe petricola RIGHT: Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 2 of 3 |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 2 of 3 |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 2 of 3 |
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| Aloe wickensii |
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| Aloe wickensii |
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| Aloe wickensii |
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| Aloe petricola, Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 2, Aloe wickensii |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 1, Aloe ferox, Aloe petricola, Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 2, Aloe wickensii, Aloe capitata, Aloe glauca |
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| Aloe glauca |
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| Aloe capitata var. quartziticola |
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| Aloe 'Erik Red', getting taller every year. It usually flowers last. |
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| Aloe 'Moonglow' clump 3 of 3 |
Winter is my least favorite season (no hesitation there), but these aloes make it bearable.
© Gerhard Bock, 2019. All rights reserved. No part of the materials available through www.succulentsandmore.com may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of Gerhard Bock. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States and international copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Gerhard Bock.
If you are reading this post on a website other than www.succulentsandmore.com, please be advised that that site is using my content without my permission. Please report such unlawful use to me at gerhard[AT]succulentsandmore[DOT]com. Thank you!
Photo #5 from the bottom for the win! Fabulous. My Moonglow is just about over, but the flowers of Jacob's Ladder/dawei have shown the most longevity so far. I've got a hybrid ferox about to bloom for the first time whose growth habit looks a lot like your excelsa....hmmm. Your petricola is making a believer out of me. Still no blooms from my wickensii. Aloes seem to be handling the rain fine.
ReplyDelete'Jacob's Ladder' is high on wish list. The flowers are spectacular.
DeleteAloe petricola is beautiful year round.
Have to agree with Denise, photo 5th from the end is the winner. What a spectacular display! The aloe's don't look they have minded the rain. What is the little purple flower hanging over the tree trunk with Aloe capitata var. quartzicola?
ReplyDeleteOnce established, many aloes are opportunistic--they soak up whatever water they can get.
DeleteThat little purple flower is Gomphrena globosa 'Fireworks'. It's one crazy plant, growing like a weed and flowering almost constantly. It does get lanky and needs to be cut back.
'Moonglow' was my favorite until I saw A. wickensii. My own wickensii has yet to flower but it's still on the small side. I agree with the preceding commentators that the group shot (5th from the bottom) is absolutely fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI have a thing for bicolored flowers, and A. wickensii delivers!
DeleteThe "group shot" is my favorite view of this bed.
That wide shot 5 up from the bottom would have been all this post needed if 'Tangerine' had been in there. Almost perfect! 'Tangerine' was my fav until wickensii too. It seems wrong that a single clump of 'Moonglow' could produce SO MANY blooms (clump #1). Crazy.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the exact parentage of 'Moonglow' is (a trade secret) but its flower power is off the charts!
DeleteFor Your Consideration... Clearly, 'Moonglow' is getting a bit of an Oscar campaign in this post. And having been invited into the Academy by the author/gardener, I can report: it works! 'Moonglow' and strong supporting cast get my vote, with #11 from the bottom my pick for Best Picture. (Even though the smart bet is on the spectacular panorama shot to take home the statuette.)
ReplyDelete'Moonglow' is a bit of a showoff, but it can't help itself.
DeleteBest Newcomer: 'Tangerine'. Really a stunner.
ReplyDeleteI'm very excited about 'Tangerine'. I almost didn't buy it, and even then I thought the flower color might be dull. Not the case at all!
DeleteI have the feeling I might be tempted much harder by Aloe glauca in a week or so; potentially smashing contrast of bloom and foliage.
ReplyDeleteGlad you've had some sun between rain trains, giving you the chance to bask in your border and capture so much of the beauty for us. Thanks as always!
You know, I have a weakness for Aloe glauca. For reasons I can't quite fathom, it's often treated like the step child of the aloe world. I think it's a very pretty plant, in and out of flower.
DeleteMoonglow gets my vote, with Wickensii in 2nd place. My capitata flower either rotted or froze, so I feel really unattractively jealous of yours. Do you think this night be your best Aloe bloom year so far ?
ReplyDeleteYes, best aloe bloom yet, mainly because the plants are bigger now.
DeleteI have a 'Moonglow' for you if you want it.
I thought I’d be able to pick a favorite but instead I’m going with all of them!
ReplyDeleteLike me!
DeleteI love them all and your garden is so wonderful. However I love Aloe 'Moonglow'. I have tried to find it here in Phoenix but have not been able to. Will have to try the Internet.
ReplyDeleteThe availability of 'Moonglow' is spotty. I got mine at the Home Depot of all places. Sometimes you don't see 'Moonglow' anywhere, and then it's everywhere, just to disappear again.
DeleteStunning, all of them. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Nothing better than to share photos of plants I love.
DeleteI think the best response is 'yes, please!' They are all gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWould you know why certain older aloes don't flower (as in your Arborescens)? I have older Cameronii and Elegans planted in the ground around 8 years ago that have never flowered!
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't know. Typically I'm told that aloes need a lot of sun to flower. Maybe yours are in too much shade?
DeleteI like Aloe 'Tangerine' and 'Moonglow'. Tangerine has never bloomed for me and Moonglow did last year, but nothing this winter and I lost a beautiful big Moonglow this summer (heat).
ReplyDeleteAloes can be totally unpredictable. I still don't know why some regular bloomers sometimes skip a year. Last winter, when it was so wet, quite a few regulars DID NOT bloom.
Delete