Alphabetical Plant Listing

Aloe polyphylla (Spiral Aloe)

Spiral Aloe


Absolutely fascinating, Aloe polyphylla (Spiral Aloe) is a compact evergreen succulent valued for its foliage arranged in a perfect spiral pattern. The fleshy gray-green leaves form a tight rosette that becomes a beautiful spiral, either clockwise or counterclockwise, as the plant ages. A plant can count up to 150 leaves geometrically arranged in 5 ranks. The leaves are adorned with white to pale-green spines along their edges and a dark, purplish brown terminal spine at their tips. This Aloe rarely flowers. When it does in spring and early summer, its red to salmon-pink tubular blooms are borne on a branching spike which emerges above the foliage. The flower of Aloe polyphylla is the national flower of Lesotho. Lovely in decorative containers!

  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows up to 1 ft. tall (30 cm) and 2 ft. wide (60 cm).
  • Easily grown in sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils in full sun. Water moderately when in growth; very sparingly when dormant. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer 2 or 3 times in the growing season. Drought tolerant.
  • Great for beds and borders, rock gardens, slopes, succulent gardens or Mediterranean gardens. Great in decorative containers too.
  • Deer resistant. The flowers produce nectar and are attractive to birds and bees
  • Propagate by seed sown with heat as soon as ripe or from offsets
  • Virtually disease free. Watch for scale insects and mealybugs.
  • Native to Lesotho.

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Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 12
Heat Zones 10 – 12
Climate Zones 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents
Plant Family Aloe
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1' (30cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Bees, Birds
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden

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(c) Gerhard Bock, SucculentsandMore.com

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 12
Heat Zones 10 – 12
Climate Zones 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents
Plant Family Aloe
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1' (30cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Bees, Birds
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Aloe

Guides with Aloe

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