Aloe thraskii

Gardens along the South African coastline display many outstanding specimens of Aloe thraskii. The common height they reach is around 2 m, but occasionally plants in excess of 4 m are seen. This is one of the recognised South African tree aloes (SA Tree List No. 30.7).

Aloe suprafoliata

Aloe suprafoliata has a botanical name that comes from the distinctive characteristic of the young plant that produces two vertical ranks of opposite, stacked leaves that only spiral into a rosette in maturity after some years.

Aloe pretoriensis

Aloe pretoriensis grows a 1 m stem upon which the 40 to 60 leaves of the single rosette are nearly erect when young. They are lanceolate-acuminate, i.e. lance-shaped and tapering to a sharp apex.

Aloe humilis

Aloe humilis, sometimes commonly called the dwarf hedgehog aloe, is a miniature stemless leaf succulent growing a dense clump of up to 10 leaf rosettes. Humilis means lowly or humble in Latin.

Aloe hereroensis

Aloe hereroensis, in Afrikaans commonly the vlakte-aalwyn (plains aloe) or sandaalwyn (sand aloe), usually grows a single rosette, but may branch into clumps of up to three similar ones. The lower leaf surface is characteristically spotted, especially in young plants, whilst the upper one is clear of such spots, distinguishing the species from the maculate aloes.

Aloe greatheadii

Aloe greatheadii var. davyana, previously A. davyana, is common in Gauteng. It is noticed mostly during the winter months when thousands of flowers appear in the grass. They are often found in large groups in poorly managed veld.

Aloe castanea

Aloe castanea received the specific epithet of castanea for the eponymous colour designation, chestnut. The red-brown perianths have inner segments broader than the outer three free ones. The inner three anthers as well as the outer ones are in turn excerted.