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Aloidendron barberae
Also called Eastern Tree Aloe
Tree aloe (Aloidendron barberae) is a slow-growing, giant succulent tree from southern Africa that can reach about 18 m in the wild, with a neat crown and a thick trunk. It is grown mainly as a striking outdoor sculptural specimen, and the key to success is giving it well-drained soil and room for its trunk and roots to expand.
Aloidendron barberae, formerly Aloe bainesii and Aloe barberae, also known as the tree aloe, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Aloidendron. It is native to South Africa northwards to Mozambique. In its native climes this slow-growing tree can reach up to 18 metres (59 ft) high and 0.9 m (3 ft) stem in stem diameter. Aloidendron barberae is Africa's largest aloe-like plant. The tree aloe is often used as an ornamental plant. Its tubular flowers are rose pink (green-tipped); it flowers in winter and in its natural environment is pollinated by sunbirds.
Aloidendron barberae forms a striking focal point in the garden, being an enormous sculptural tree with a neat crown. A specimen planted at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town in 1922 had by 2011 grown to have a basal diameter (not girth) of 3 m (9.8 ft).
It is easily propagated, especially by cuttings (truncheons) which should be left to dry for a week or two before planting. It prefers well-drained soil, especially on a slope, and can tolerate some shade when small.
The tree aloe's habitat is subtropical coastal forests, kloofs (ravines) and dry valleys in the eastern regions of southern Africa. Aloidendron barberae is widely distributed from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini and Mpumalanga; and northwards to Mozambique and East Africa.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Aloidendron barberae by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
