Aloe broomii

Aloe broomii is an acaulescent (non-stemmed) aloe, native to rocky slopes in central South Africa. A mature plant can be up to 24 inches in diameter and not quite as high. Here in the arid southwest, they do best with light shade in the hot summer. The plant pictured here is about 7 or 8 years old and is atypical in that it has two heads. This specimen flowered for the first time two years ago. Typical flowering time is early spring. The snake-like inflorescence is usually unbranched. In the close-up photo, note the shade cloth and screening material that I use to exclude pollinators, so that I can hand pollinate and insure seed purity.

This species is somewhat more cold tolerant that other aloes, taking temperatures down to the middle twenties (F) without damage.

The name ‘broomii’ comes from the last name (Broom) of the man who first collected it.