Aloe squarrosa

Aloe squarrosa is a rare creeping aloe, often confused with A. jucunda. This succulent plant forms a strongly ramified clump, with long stems of about 30cm (12in) in length that are initially erect and then prostrate, bearing small and numerous heads with loosely arranged rosette leaves. Its triangular foliage is short, fleshy, glossy green, and heavily speckled with white on the underside. The leaves are equipped with hooked white prickles. It produces slender and short spikes of scarlet tubular flowers in spring. This frost-sensitive species prefers partial sun and well-drained, slightly coarse, dry soil. Its trailing or cascading habit will elegantly adorn your rockeries and dry banks.

Aloe squarrosa is a botanical species in the Asphodelaceae family, native to Socotra Island in Yemen, where it grows on the limestone plateaus of the northwest and steep cliffs of the northeast. It is a fairly rare succulent perennial plant with a dense, heavily ramified habit, reaching about 30cm (12in) in all directions. Its growth rate is quite fast, with the plant reaching its adult size in 5-6 years. It forms numerous thin and long stems of about 40cm (16in) in length and 3cm (1in) in diameter. They are initially erect and then creeping. The oldest parts at the base of the clump dry out and become bare over time. Its glossy green leaves are short, triangular, thick, fleshy, folded, and strongly speckled with white on the underside. The inner surface has a few raised white spots. Their margins are armed with large, flexible but rough-to-the-touch, hooked white prickles. In early spring, depending on the climate and the year, a short and slender floral spike emerges from the centre of mature rosettes, bearing a 6cm (2in) long pendulous tubular flower spike in scarlet.

Aloe squarrosa thrives when grown in a deep pot to decorate a patio or balcony. Remove any rosettes that threaten to overcrowd the available space. It also flourishes in the ground in warm climates or on protected Atlantic coasts, in a flower bed, rock garden, or well-drained bank. It is hardy to approximately 0°C (32°F) in dry soil. Plant this aloe in sloping or 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.