Aloe morogoroensis

Aloe bussei, also known as A. morogoroensis, is a highly decorative species with rosettes of fleshy green leaves washed with varying shades of reddish-brown or purple-green. This aloe forms a medium-sized, low, compact clump that spreads with the numerous offsets it produces at its base. It bears a unique winter flowering on short stems, with spikes of tubular flowers ranging from red to bright orange. It is not very hardy. It is best grown in a pot that can be stored during winter. In mild climates, it can grow outside where it will create colourful masses in a rock garden. It is an exceptionally drought-resistant species that should be grown in full sun, in well-drained and dry soil.

Aloe bussei is a botanical species in the Asphodelaceae family. It is native to Tanzania where it grows on granite rocky slopes or in deeper soils with deciduous forest and meadow species, between 500 and 1800m (1640 and 5905ft) altitude. It is a small and compact succulent perennial plant with a rosette habit that is wider than it is tall, reaching around 40cm (16in) in height and 60cm (24in) in width. Its growth rate is quite fast, with the plant reaching its adult size in 5-6 years. It forms a thick and short stem, concealed by the leaves. The leaves are triangular, thick, fleshy, upright, and have few white spots on both sides. Their main colour ranges from light green to reddish-brown to purple-green. They are equipped with lighter spines along the edges that turn brown under direct sunlight. From January to April, depending on the climate and the year, a flowering stem emerges from the centre of mature rosettes, reaching 60cm (24in) in height, with few or no branches (1 to 4 branches), bearing a spike of pendulous tubular flowers that are red to bright orange, depending on the exposure.

Aloe bussei grows very well in deep pots to decorate patios or balconies. Remove any rosettes that threaten to overcrowd the available space. It will also thrive in the ground in mild climates or on protected Atlantic coasts, in a flower bed, rock garden, or on a well-drained bank. It is hardy to around 0°C (32°F) in dry soil. Plant it in sloping or rocky well-drained soil, or even in dry stone walls. In cooler regions, it can be planted in a wider than tall pot to fully enjoy its unique charm. For example, you can plant it with small agaves. You can plant low-growing, undemanding ground covers such as evening primroses, osteospermums, felicia, and delosperma at its base, which will fill the space with their flowering and evergreen foliage, and hide the void left by a dead plant.