skip to main content

South African Native Plants

Looking for Aloe arborescens with yellow flower

21 years ago

Hi everyone --

I'm just starting my garden and am looking for some plants with *good bones*. I see Aloe arborecens all over our neighborhood -- so i know it will grow well here. But I'm looking for a source/nursery that has the aloe with yellow flower heads. Can anyone in give me a source?

Thanx.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

safariofthemind
21 years ago
You may want to check the nurseries for Aloe mutabilis, a former name now made a synonim with arborescens. Below is a link to a nice article on these plants. Good luck. RJ

Here is a link that might be useful: A Arb article
bahia
21 years ago
Have your local retail nursery order one for you from San Marcos Growers(wholesale) in Santa Barbara. I find that it tends to bloom earlier than the red forms, and the flowering season is not quite as long, but it is very nice. It also seems more attractive to snails, and might require baiting to keep it looking good. You might also want to try some of the hybrids with A. arborescens as one parent, most are equally large growing, but have a diverse range of flower color, some are bicolored.
Related Discussions
WANTED: Yellow Flowered Aloe variegata & others
Q
Comments (0)
I'm looking for a yellow flowering Aloe variegata or any other Aloes that have flower colors out of the norm for the species. Or, just lookin to trade some Aloe plants. It's a good time of year to do it. Check out my trade list! :) Jordan
...See More
When can I take cuttings from Aloe Arborescens?
Q
Comments (13)
Our winters are drier than coastal Californian winters. We normally get our rains spread out throughout the year with heavier fall and May/june rains. It can rain any time or not at all. Mostly it is zone 9. The lowest it got last year was was 26 degrees. We are also very warm with an occasional sharp swing down for three days. Our normal lows are in the 40's in December and January with a occasion arctic blast that could take us down to 19 but hasn't for several years. I am still experiencing lows in the 60's. Our rainfall can vary from 34" to 11" per year. When it is really cold it is very dry. I have studied Daves Garden , Arid lands and San Marcus growers hardiness estimates and that is why I am taking a chance. I live in the uplands of the area and drainage is almost too much. Many plants live on my land that do not reside downhill. It is also colder downhill. I have many Zone 9 plants living unprotected. I have a gorge that starts on my property that drains off the cold and deposits it 4 miles away in a friends backyard. She can be 24 degrees and I will be above freezing still. She is at 700' above sea level and I am at 1400'. I guess it is all about micro climates. I am still figuring this one out. I hear about the popularity of Aloes in Californian landscaping and Texas seems similar in some respects but lags far behind in testing these plants out. I am only now figuring out how Californian winters and summers differ from mine and trying to make judgements about plants that would or would not work here.. I have some friends in and around California and this year I have been following their weather on Weatherunderground and comparing highs and lows with me. Yes, I am obsessive. I do have freeze cloths. They do work wonders. I guess I am one to take chances.
...See More
Aloe arborescens
Q
Comments (2)
Always wanted one of these, but look best in the ground and I don't have that kind of open real estate for that. I just admire the ones I see, there are plenty of fine specimens planted in Berkeley/Oakland area.
...See More
color of Aloe vera flowers
Q
Comments (5)
Yellow is the only color I have encountered, and they are not very floriferous. Some people think there is only one Aloe, the Aloe vera, and some people confuse the hybrid (sometimes called Aloe vera) with the species. The low growing soft plant with spots is the hybrid, sometimes called Chinese Aloe. This is probably the most commonly encountered Aloe in the world. The juice from the small soft leaves can be used to cool burns. The species described as Aloe vera is a larger plant with teeth that can rip you up. The clump in Baltimore at the Rawlings Conservatory covers an area about 3ft X 3ft and produces several flower stalks every year, but there are many more plants than there are flowers.
...See More
Joe_California
21 years ago
Hi Jxa44, I've got loads of them here in my garden in Los Angeles. They are Aloe arborescens 'Lutea', originally from San Marcos Growers. They bloom a beautiful pale yellow, right on schedule every year at Thanksgiving. This year's bloom lasted almost a month. E-mail me and I can send you some pups if you like.
jxa44
Original Author
21 years ago
Joe, I'd love to have some pups! I've e-mailed you my mailing address. It seems a good time of the season to send plants (it's cool). Please pack them well, they will be forwarded to me from mailing address.

Thanx again for the offer.
neptunespetal
20 years ago
Hi Joe California :)

Saw your post about the aloe. I'm looking to use this plant in my landscape and was wondering if you could share a little more info. I noticed at the San Marcos Growers site that they have 2 yellow aloe arborescens, one is the 'Lutea' you speak of and the other is Yellow Torch Aloe or 'Yellow Torch'. There seems to be no difference really except that it says 'Lutea' reaches 9 ft. and the other 6-8 ft. and it seems the regular Yellow Torch has less curved foliage... hmmm.

Anyway, could you please tell me how tall and wide the ones in your garden grow? Also, how fast is the growth? Do the clumps form close to the ground? I'd greatly appreciate all info you care to share :-) I have a 6'x3' area that I'd like to have the aloe as a main foundation in...

I was also recommended an aloe striatula plant which grows to 3-5 ft. here. Anyone have experience with these?

Here is a link that might be useful: Aloe Striatula
Joe_California
20 years ago
Hi Neptune,
Saw your post. I got them from San Marcos in 5 gallon containers 3 1/2 years ago. They were single plants at that time, about 18" across or so. Now they are clumps about 3' across and as tall. They grow upwards just like the species. And, I would consider it pretty fast growing.
Hope that helps. Good luck with them. They're great!

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Aloe Vera

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Bright yellow flowering spikes decorate this popular aloe from late winter into spring, much to the delight of hummingbirds

SPRING GARDENING 8 Sunny Spring Flowers

Add a burst of yellow to the garden with forsythia, witch hazel, winter jasmine and more

DECORATING GUIDES Paint Color Ideas: 7 Bright Ways With Yellow and Orange

By Jennifer Ott Design

Go with the glow. These sample palettes and room examples show you how to work with two of the happiest hues around

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Ideas From the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show

By Debra Prinzing

Peruse inspiring plants, plant combinations and design ideas from London’s famed garden exhibition

GARDENING GUIDES Warm Up Your Garden With Orange Flowers

By Annie Thornton

Hummingbirds and butterflies are not the only ones who will notice when you introduce a blaze of orange into your garden

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Rockrose

By Annie Thornton

Dry summer heat and poor soil won't quell the profuse papery blossoms of rockrose, a low-maintenance champion

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Pickable Plants for Fall Centerpieces

Cut flowers and branches make for seasonal arrangements both easy and lovely. Grow these in the garden for the look and feel of fall

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Bulbine Frutescens 'Hallmark'

By Annie Thornton

Plant this low-maintenance succulent now for brilliant eye-catching orange blooms in spring

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Ornamental Allium

By Annie Thornton

Lollipop blooms on tall, leafless stems add an architectural element to gardens of all styles

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Red Kangaroo Paw

By Annie Thornton

Plant this dramatic perennial in fall or spring for its height, hardiness and beautiful red blooms

Sponsored