RED ALOE Seeds (Aloe Cameronii)

RED ALOE Seeds (Aloe Cameronii)

Price for Package of 5 seeds.

Aloe cameronii (Cameron's Ruwari Aloe, Red Aloe) A medium-sized suckering aloe with many upright stems of open rosettes to 1 to 2 feet with lax narrow leaves that are medium to dark green and that turn a beautiful coppery red in summer. It bears 1 foot tall spikes of bright orange-red flowers that appear primarly from late fall into early winter in southern California gardens. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate only occasionally to enhance the red coloration of the foliage, which will remain green if overwatered. Hardy to mid to upper 20's. This is one of the most attractive foliage aloes and also bears attractive flowers. It was first discovered in the central African country of Nyasaland (now Malawi) by Kenneth J. Cameron, an employee of the African Lakes Corporation, who first sent it to the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew in 1854 but was not described until it flowered there in 1903 when William Botting Hemsley (1843-1924), longtime gardener and keeper at Kew, was able to fully describe it though the original collection data was lost or not recorded. Theo Campbell-Barker wrote an article for "Haworthiad", the journal of the Haworthia Society titled 'The type locality of Aloe cameronii Hemsley' where he thoroughly researched Cameron's whereabouts and determined the likely habitat for this aloe on a hill at Namadzi near Zomba close to where Cammeron had been working at a Cotton Research station.  This description is based on research and observations of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in our nursery garden and in other gardens that we visit. We also incorporate comments received and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Aloe cameronii.