It doesn't look like my A. marlothii (sp.check) nor my A. ferox, I have them standing side by side. I'm not good with pictures. Both of these plants mentioned has a branched infl. does yours, this is very important for identification and spikes on the keel side of the leaves, again it could be a hybrid. I can't give you a name if I don't know what it is and I can't change the name for you. See if you can find Renyolds book on Aloe. I haven't seen every Aloe sp. that there is. Is the infl. branched? Branched tree like aloe Aloe: barberae, dichotoma, pillansii, plicatilis, A. ramossima, which it is none of these Single-stemmed Aloe: it could be one of these is it is a true species Aloe: africana, alooides, angelica, comosa, excelsa, ferox, lineata, littoralis, marlothii, pluridens, pretoriensis, rupestirs, speciosa, traskii, vryheidensis. I still have the feeling it might be A. arborescens, but feelings don't count on scientic matters. it does have some harmless teeth on the leaves that really are not lethal. These are the few in So Afica that may apply. There are Aloe in other countries in Africa as well, So. West Africa and Madagascar just to mention a few. Did you ask Palm Bob in the other forum. He is really the one that can help you. I'm not proofing this, ask Jeff to do that, I need some sleep. Norma

This aloe is a great performer. I grow it here on the peninsula and is one of my favorite landscape aloes. If you can find it in a one gallon, it will fill a 5 gallon fairly fast and you can save a few bucks (or buy a couple). Tom

MOST IMPORTANT rule of thumb for large potted Aloes: they need lots of root room in pots, and the roots are extremely sensitive to temperature variation especially cold - so use bigger/ deeper pots than you think. Pure perlite is fine as it is light and won't get soggy even if you try. Make sure to supplement a well-balanced fert. Aloes do not like hot and wet, which will be a challenge in Arkansas - though marlothii and barberae may be as tolerant as any other...also vaombe, you may want to try that one. They can take a Florida summer. So can barberae. Aloe thraskii is more or less tolerant of summer rains as well. Ramosissima: good luck! Be prepared for untimely death. These are particularly sensitive. Never let the roots dry out completely. I will be shocked if you can keep this alive and healthy long term. Go ahead and prove me wrong, I dare you! :-) Marlothii: easy, but will get very heavy and difficult to move in pots Barberae: also easy, can get tall fast, but will slow down as roots are restricted If you want an almost bulletproof tree aloe, I recommend Aloe Hercules. Mine is now almost 7-ft tall not including the pot. Base of stem must be 7-8 inches diameter. I need a dolly to lug it around. Potted plants are not as cold hardy as in the ground. A light frost will damage the leaves, so be careful. I had A. dichotoma in a pot, also about 6-ft, but this past winter it finally rotted: VERY difficult keeping the root zone at the right temp/ moisture indoors in the cold. You will need to either find a cool winter space where the plants will stop growing, or find some spot with excellent lighting. Avoid weak winter growth. Dormant is better. Trust me. I've been doing this a l o n g time. x

Thanks!.I'm over here in the eastbay,Hayward. I think the Hercules flowers are the only pics on the net.No matter how much i looked,didnt find any.So,even i was wondering what they were going to be like! My advice to anybody is if you want a branching tree Aloe-Hercules might be the hardiest.If you want a tree Euphorbia cactid,E abysinnica might be the hardiest of those and E.ammak the fastest growing(haven't tried E.ingens)and almost the same in cold hardyness.E.ingens could be best of all.A neighbor planted a 6" dish garden plant 5 or 6 years ago and its a very bushy 6' now. I didnt see a bit of damage from the freeze on it..and they have it in the middle of the front yard-no cover whatsoever. Global or urban or both warming has really added to the menu of tropicalia to be grown in the bay area. If it keeps us above 32..the sky's the limit..