Aloe variegata (Tiger Aloe) / 5 seeds

With its striking yellow, nectar-filled flowers, thick water-filled stem and leaves, and profuse branching Aloe ramosissima can be an amazing addition to a garden. It originates in the extremely arid region of Southern Africa’s Namib Desert where it occurs on rocky hills and mountains. Nectar in the beautiful flowers is harvested by sugarbirds and bees. Pollination takes place by ants and bees. Its seeds are winged and are carried by the wind to make them land into bushes where they germinate using the shade and shelter to the fullest. But the young plants soon outgrow the foster plant and even kill it in the process.

This plant is extremely drought-resistant due to its fleshy leaves. Aloe ramosissima gets heat protection also from the grey powder on its stems which reflect the intense heat. Known for its profusely branched structure, Aloe ramosissima eventually forms large mounds.

Branching from the ground level continues as the plant becomes older, giving it an almost spherical shape. The stem is short and smooth, and features strips of waxy, satiny powdery bark the color of which is silver-pink-brown. It provides the plant a sunscreen in the harsh, arid climate. If the area is more arid, the stem becomes longer and less branched. Leaves are fleshy, oblong, up to 200mm long and 20mm wide and occur in the form of small rosettes on the ends of branches.

They are glaucous-green or yellowish green in color and usually have a pinkish tinge. They also have small, brownish marginal teeth. Flowers of Aloe ramosissima are produced in winter and are comparatively large and are bright yellow. They are swollen, tubular, fleshy and hence conspicuous and are usually produced on a 3-branched short inflorescence that is up to 200mm long. They eventually turn into shiny, smooth dry capsules that split into three from the upper side, while the lower end remains fused.

Seeds that are released are 30 x 18mm in size, winged and narrow. Aloe ramosissima is a long-lived plant that can adorn your garden for years. Although it’s a slow-grower, under favorable conditions it grows by 10-20 cm per year.

The epithet ramosissima in the name of the plant means with many branches. Aloe ramosissima is deer resistant and rabbit resistant.
While growing Aloe ramosissima, you should plant it first in moderate shade and once it becomes hardy, you should move it into full sun, or else the plant may be severely scorched. Overwatering should be strictly avoided.

It’s good to feed Aloe ramosissma in summer with any cacti and succulents fertilizer high in potassium and all micronutrients and trace elements. You can even use a slow-release fertilizer.
Pests and diseases may attack Aloe ramosissima if it faces wrong watering, poor drainage and too much shade.

As such, Aloe ramosissima prefers hot summers. But it can tolerate a few degrees of frost in winter. If kept dry, it grows without any problem outdoors. It grows best in climates close to its native habitat, i.e. neither too cold nor too wet. In that case it grows best outdoors in spring and summer, but it can be grown indoors in large containers too.

Propagation of Aloe ramosissima from seeds is easy and quick. Growing from cuttings has low success rate and hence, is not advisable. Cuttings don’t form roots until the active growing season which is September starts, whereas seeds can survive for several months. But fresh seeds are better for sowing and fall is the best season to sow seeds.