Aloe dichotoma - Quiver tree

Aloe dichotoma (now named Aloidendron dichotomum), the Quiver Tree or False Dragon Tree, is a large, tree-like succulent plant emblematic of the desert landscapes of southern Africa. Its massive trunk, rounded crown of forked branches and rosettes of blue-green leaves create a plant of great character for dry Mediterranean gardens and large rockeries. Upright inflorescences covered in yellow flowers illuminate the plant in late winter. In cooler climates, the Quiver Tree makes a beautiful specimen for a pot or container, to be placed on a very sunny terrace and overwintered in a bright, frost-free conservatory.

This species belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. The currently accepted botanical name is Aloidendron dichotomum, with the main synonyms being Aloe dichotoma, Rhipidodendrum dichotomum, Aloe dichotoma var. montana or Aloe montana. It is native to a vast arid zone stretching from north-western South Africa to southern Namibia, where it colonises rocky slopes, granite hills and very sunny sandy plains at altitudes between 300 and 1200 m. It is a perennial plant that can live for 200 to 300 years. Accustomed to extreme conditions of heat, drought and sunlight, it has developed a set of adaptations: succulent stems, extensive shallow roots and pale bark that reflects heat.
With slow to moderate growth, this aloe reaches 7 to 9 m in height in the wild, sometimes more, with a single trunk that can exceed 50 cm in diameter. Specimens cultivated in pots remain between 1.50 m and 3 m tall after many years. At 10 years old, under good growing conditions, one can aim for 2 to 3 m in the ground, and 1.50 to 2 m in a large container. The plant first develops an unbranched trunk which later divides; the crown forms a rounded canopy of thick, smooth branches, covered with a whitish bloom. The bark of the trunk peels off in rigid, yellow to golden brown plates with sharp edges.
The foliage is evergreen in winter, formed of succulent leaves arranged in terminal rosettes at the ends of the branches, 20 to 30 cm long, triangular, rigid, of a glaucous blue-green, edged with fine rigid teeth. The leaves of young plants are arranged in almost vertical lines before forming true rosettes.
The plant begins to flower at the age of 20 or 30 years, if conditions are right. The inflorescences appear in winter in its native range, which corresponds to late winter or early spring in our latitudes, depending on temperature and light. In a heated greenhouse or very bright conservatory, flowering occurs between February and April. Outdoors, in very mild regions (Mediterranean coast, areas without marked frost), it can also be observed in February-March, sometimes a little later if the winter has been cold. These are branched panicles that can reach 30 cm in height, bearing several dense racemes (or "clusters") of bright yellow to golden yellow, nectar-rich, tubular flowers. The fruits are dry capsules containing numerous winged seeds, dispersed by the wind. The root system is shallow, spreading and relatively dense, with fleshy roots that exploit rare and brief rains over a wide area rather than in depth. Aloidendron dichotomum is hardy to around -5 to -6 °C in dry, well-drained conditions, with possible damage from -2 to -3 °C if moisture is present.

In traditional culture, the San people used the hollow, light branches of the Quiver Tree to make quivers for carrying arrows, which gave the plant its vernacular name. The bitter sap has been used occasionally in folk medicine, but it is considered toxic and is not used for self-medication.

In a garden in a mild climate, Aloe dichotoma can be used as a specimen plant on a stony slope or in a large south-facing rockery, in very well-draining, dry to very dry soil. Plant it near rocks or walls that reflect heat and protect it from cold winds.
In a pot or container, choose a deep, heavy container filled with a gravelly substrate for cacti and give it a location flooded with sun. 
Combine it with other succulents adapted to dryness and heat like Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’, Yucca rostrata, Dasylirion wheeleri or large hardy Opuntia. It can also be paired with lower-growing aloes like Aloe arborescens, Aloe striatula or with drought-resistant African euphorbias, to create a coherent display.