Aloe x rauhii Cleopatra

Aloe rauhii 'Cleopatra' or Snowflake aloe is a highly sought-after species for its numerous white markings covering its rough, grey-green leaves. It is a small perennial with a spreading habit. It forms tight rosettes of thick, succulent, triangular leaves with tiny white teeth that turn orange-purple in the sun. It bears unique winter flowering in spikes of bright orange tubular flowers. Not tolerant to frost, it should be grown in a pot and stored indoors during winter or used to create colourful masses in rockeries, but only in mild climates, in well-drained, even limestone soil.

Aloe rauhii 'Cleopatra' is a botanical species in the Asphodelaceae family, native to Madagascar. It is a compact, small succulent perennial with a rosette habit that is wider than it is tall, reaching approximately 20 cm (8in) in height and 30 cm (12in) in width. It grows relatively quickly, reaching its adult size in 5-6 years. It forms a short stem, not exceeding 10 cm (4in) in height with age, concealed by the leaves. The leaves are triangular, thick, fleshy, and upright. Their main colour ranges from grey-green to white depending on the intensity of the white spotting. They have white spines along the edges that turn brown under direct sunlight. From January to April, depending on the climate and the year, a non-branched flower stalk of 40 cm (16in) emerges from the centre of mature rosettes, bearing pendulous bright orange tubular flowers.

Aloe x rauhii 'Cleopatra' thrives when potted to decorate a terrace or balcony, taking care to remove rosettes that have become too numerous for the available space. It also flourishes in the ground in Mediterranean climates or on protected Atlantic coastlines, in a bed, rockery, or well-drained slope. It is hardy to approximately 0°C (32°F) in dry soil. Plant this aloe in sloping or rocky, well-drained terrain, or even in dry stone walls. Elsewhere, it can be planted in a wider than tall pot to fully enjoy its unique charm. It can, for example, be paired with small agaves. You can plant frugal ground covers such as Evening Primroses, Osteospermums, Felicia, and Delosperma around their base to fill the space with their flowering and evergreen foliage, hiding any gaps left by dead plants.