Plant Care Library

Other Names:  syn. Aloiampelos ciliaris, Fire Break Aloe

Description:

A branching, groundcover variety featuring a mounding habit with many dense rosettes of medium green leaves on gray stems; produces erect spikes of tubular red-orange flowers all year; a fire resistant plant that is very attractive on the landscape

Ornamental Features

Firewall Groundcover Aloe features showy spikes of scarlet flowers rising above the foliage from late winter to late fall. It has attractive green evergreen foliage. The succulent sword-like leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. The gray stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Firewall Groundcover Aloe is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its strikingly bold and coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced landscape composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. 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

Firewall Groundcover Aloe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Firewall Groundcover Aloe will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub 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 is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Firewall Groundcover Aloe makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.