I almost bought that ramoissima last time I was out there, but picked another one that was taller. It was flat too (desiccated), repotted and watered a couple of time and it plumped right up.

What is so red on the red form of A. arborescens?
Your A. ramosissima might take a while to get the size of my plants, planted in the ground in 2000 as seedlings and photos taken in '06:
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Jordi

Sounds like you did the Longs to Berkeley run--a favorite plant shopping route of mine.

The arborescens to me looks more like cameronii. Arborescens is more flat-leaved and glaucous. I am guessing this is a hybrid. Marilynn has a few other crosses she sells but is not too detailed on the tag. (Her main business is bromeliads.)

I snagged one of those ramosissimas just as they were bringing them in last year. It looks exactly like yours with the flat leaves. Like arenicola, it also doesn't like cold and wet conditions. Give it lots of TLC.

Hi stanofh,

I've found a few of these at a local nursery. How's your doing? It sure looks like a cameronii. Are you convinced it's an arborescens?

Do you have any recent photo? thx

Stan,

I'll join the chorus - that's no Aloe arborescens, red form, pink form or blue.

It's a misidentification that's turned into marketing something that doesn't exist. All A. arborescens will turn red when exposed to enough sun and reduced water.

Cactusmcharris,

That's what I'm thinking...
I went over some photos in google; some that are labeled cameronii have the same characteristics as the one shown above; but others have broader leaves which are different from the photo. Maybe, this thing is a hybrid of some kind...

Stan,
How did it handle the winter frost?

Well,let me say-I have seen the red form-and its ALL red-even in light shade. I think I was jipped..this plant is only reddish-you guessed it- in summer and with little water. No doubt with these red forms-only buy if red because reddish plants arent going to get much better.
This winters coldest wettest weather didnt bother it.
Im sure it will grow and look redder this summer. Pics then.
btw, The ram did great,plumped up and got that nice winter color .It was a double trunker until the cats knock it over-now I have two plants. No big deal..the broken stem had proto roots anyways.

hey Stan,

if you don't mind, how much did you pay for the A. ramosissima?

Bri.

Oh,the exact price I cant remember-but it was under $10 at the Dry Garden. Not bad since their is almost a zero chance of finding it elsewhere here. Maybe one of those eclectic,funky Oakland hardware/drug/ nursery stores might have it!

And this plant doesnt look at all like the A.cameronii at the UCB garden at the size it is. It could change as it gets larger. Almost nothing in stone with young Aloes.

thanks Stan,

That's a great price you paid. A local place (kind of known for catering to a socio-economnic class above mine) was selling a fairly small one for $250. what a difference.

Bri.

One of my favorite Aloe, while I visited Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa years ago
I saw many nice specimens on mountainous areas where it grows exposed ridges and rocky outcrops.

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Also, at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden,Cape Town, this bloomer was really eye-catcher.

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Wow,what a crappy memory I have. I forgot about this post when I posted planting the plant in the pot a few days ago.- I just googled and came back to here...
Any new ideas or info since then?