A little bit about Aloes and their hybrids.
The vast majority of aloes, over 125 species, come from South Africa, the remaining from Southwest Asia and Madagascar. Currently, there are almost 500 different species, with many over the last few years being hybrids. Only recently Aloes were elevated into their own family, Aloaceae. There were long lumped together with lilies and other lily relatives in the Lilaceae family. While some grow as large as trees, others form dense mats growing low and compact, but most all form rosettes of large fleshy leaves, and they all cary tubular flowers. Different aloes tend to bloom in early winter, and some deeper into spring, but they are all remarkable. The shapes of the flowers range from florescent spears, to candelabras, and chandeliers. Aloe blooms also exhibit just as many colors; orange, yellow, pink, red, and multicolor blooms are not uncommon sites.
While aloes have been in cultivation for a long time, its only been the last few years where we have seen a rush of hybrids entering the market. A number of different hybridizers have mastered the art and are offering us growers a plethora of easy, vibrant, and beautiful aloes to bring into the gardens of Orange County. The hybrids are formed by combining two aloes with cross pollination, often using hybrid aloes in the hybridization. Don’t be surprised if a hybrid aloe has the parentage of four or more aloes. With hybridization, we typically get a stronger, more resilient plant. Often they bloom longer, more often, and have substantially more vigor.
Visit our nursery today and starting adding to your collection!
