Plant Care Library

Other Names:  Dwarf Clumping Aloe

Description:

A dwarf, clumping variety with green new foliage that matures to blue-green with white spots, and a purplish cast; produces spikes of orange-red flowers in spring, occasionally reblooming until fall; a wonderful garden or container accent

Ornamental Features

Jackson's Aloe's attractive succulent sword-like leaves emerge green in spring, turning bluish-green in color with distinctive white spots and tinges of plum purple the rest of the year on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. It features dainty spikes of orange tubular flowers with red overtones rising above the foliage from mid spring to early fall.

Landscape Attributes

Jackson's Aloe is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

Jackson's Aloe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Jackson's Aloe will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Jackson's Aloe is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.