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Aloe ferox

Aloe ferox

Written by: Avikar Chunilall (Horticulturist)

 

Family: Asphodelaceae

Common names: Bitter Aloe, Red Aloe (English); Bitteraalwyn, Bergaalwyn (Afrikaans); iNhlaba (Zulu); iKhala (Xhosa)  

 

This is one of the best-known South African plants, and often used by Bidvest Top Turf in the landscape. Aloe ferox has a well known history for its medicinal use and is among the tallest of aloes.

 

An attractive, single-stemmed aloe with thick rosettes of thorny succulent leaves and tall stunning spikes of tubular orange-red flowers that are carried on showy flowerheads. Aloe ferox is found in KZN, Eastern Cape, Free State and Western Cape. Aloe ferox is a tall single-stemmed aloe which has a wide distribution, ranging over 1000 km from the south western Cape through to southern KwaZulu-Natal. It is also found in the south eastern corner of the Free State and southern Lesotho.

 

The Bitter Aloe will reach 2-3 meters in height with the leaves arranged in a rosette. They are single – stemmed, unbranched leaf succulent, stem densely covered with old dry leaves. The leaves are normally dull green, Spines may also be present on upper and lower surfaces of the leaves as well, margins with stout, which contain brownish red teeth.

 

The flowers are carried in a large candelabra-like flower-head. There are usually between five and eight branches, each carrying a spike-like head of many flowers. Flower colour varies from yellowy-orange to bright red. Flowering occurs between May and August, but in colder parts of the country this may be delayed until September. This aloe forms a beautiful display and attracts many bird species such as sunbirds, weavers, glossy starlings and also attracts insects.

 

The Bitter Aloe is most famous for its medicinal qualities. In parts of South Africa, the bitter yellow juice found just below the skin has been harvested as a renewable resource for two hundred years. The hard, black, resinous product is known as Cape aloes or aloe lump and is used mainly for its laxative properties but is also taken for arthritis. An excellent jam is prepared from the leaves. Ash from dried leaves is mixed with tobacco snuff. The leaves boiled in water are taken for arthritis, eczema, toothache, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, hypertension, stress and stomach pains.

 

A very common aloe found in most gardens around KZN and surrounding areas. Can be added as focal points or accent plant, wildlife gardens, rockery areas, used widely in waterwise gardening, very good frost tolerant plant. Can be propagated from seeds using well- drained medium.

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