Coral Aloe

The Coral Aloe, scientifically known as Aloe striata, is a highly ornamental succulent cherished for its distinctive foliage and vibrant floral display. This beautiful aloe is native to the rocky, coastal, and inland slopes of South Africa and southern Namibia, where it thrives in arid and semi-arid conditions with well-drained, often sandy or gravelly soils. As a long-lived perennial, the Coral Aloe can live for 40 years or more under ideal conditions, forming attractive, solitary rosettes that gradually mature.

Its most notable characteristics are its broad, flat, and remarkably smooth leaves that grow in a compact, stemless rosette. The leaves are typically a pale gray-green to bluish-green color, often with subtle, faint longitudinal stripes (which gives it the “striata” in its Latin name). A key identifying feature is their smooth, spineless margins that are often edged with a beautiful pink to reddish-orange hue, especially when exposed to ample sunlight. This contrasting color adds significantly to its visual appeal. In late winter through spring, mature plants send up tall, branched flower stalks, typically 2-3 feet high, topped with dense clusters of bright coral-red to orange-red, tubular flowers. These showy blooms are a magnet for hummingbirds, adding a dynamic element to the garden. The Coral Aloe is a fantastic choice for xeriscaping, rock gardens, Mediterranean-style landscapes, and container plantings, prized for its unique coloration, drought tolerance, and minimal maintenance.