Emerging Fall Aloe Inflorescences

I think because of the cooler nights and short days recently in the S.F. Bay Area - Aloes are beginning to put out this year's inflorescences. Some Aloes have been blooming for awhile now and others seem to bloom on and off many times during the year - many wait until this time of year which is what I share below. Over the next couple months these will be some of the only sources of food for the pollinators.


I'm not sure how old this Aloe ferox is but I planted it ~ 15 months ago. This will be the first time it's bloomed since living with me.

Aloe ferox young inflorescence
Aloe Ferox


Aloe ferox young inflorescence closeup
Aloe Ferox close up

Aloe ferox young inflorescence closeup 5 days later
Aloe ferox 5 days later...

Nov 23rd (20 days later)
December 18th
February 8th, 2020


From this angle it's hard to see the new infloresence in the picture below...

Aloe wickensii
Aloe wickensii

...but it's there and looks like it's been growing for a few days.

Aloe wickensii close up
Aloe wickensii close up


Aloe wickensii closeup
Aloe wickensii close up 5 days later

And surprise!  5 days later there are a few more infloresences visible.

Aloe wickensii
Aloe wickensii 5 days later
December 18th
December 30th
February 8th, 2020


Aloe mutabilis
Aloe mutabilis

 Beautiful right ?!

Aloe mutabilis close up
Aloe mutabilis close up

Nov 23rd (20 days later)
December 30th



This Aloe Thraskii also bloomed last year; I believe it put up two separate inflorescences. So far it's on course to do the same.
Aloe thraskii young adult plant
Aloe thraskii

Aloe thraskii with inflorescence close up
Aloe thraskii close up
Nov 23rd (20 days later)
December 30th
January 24th (78 days later)

January 24th
Bees in January?



My "Cat's Tail Aloe" has been in the ground for at least a few years now and this is the first time it has decided to bloom. I'm excited to the see the results as Aloe castanea gets it's name nick from the flower - not the leaves. I find it interesting that Aloe castanea is classified as a tree aloe - tho some say it's more of a "shrubby tree". I kinda hope that is the case.

Aloe castanea
Aloe castanea

Aloe castanea with inflorescence close up
Aloe castanea close up
Nov 23rd (20 days later)



Our Aloe elegans also bloomed last year. I'm glad it's happy enough to flower; it's always looked a little distressed.

Aloe elegans with inflorescence
Aloe elegans


Aloe elegans with inflorescence
Aloe elegans close up


For my taste I really like the look of Aloe cameronii when it lives in part shade. This specimen gets only morning and early afternoon sun - so it is a little greener than others I've seen.

Aloe cameroni
Aloe cameronii, November 8th

 I think this is my favorite. Love the pink highlights.

Aloe cameroni with inflorescence closeup
Aloe cameronii close up, November 8th
Nov 23rd (20 days later)

January 11th (64 days later)

February 9th (93 days later)


Aloe "Eric the Red"
Aloe 'Eric the Red'



Aloe "Eric the Red" with inflorescence close up
Aloe 'Eric the Red' close up
Aloe 'Eric the Red', Nov 23rd (20 days later)
December 30th



And finally an unknown Aloe what may be Aloe 'Moonglow' that has sat largely forgotten in a corner. I cut it back to a stump after a bout of Aloe mite. It has grown back over the last 12 -18 months (?) from virtually nothing and has shown no signs of disease since. Can you spot the inflorescence?

Aloe plant in pot
Aloe 'Moonglow' (?), November 8th

Aloe plant in pot with inflorescence closeup
Unknown Aloe close up, November 8th
Anyone know what this is?

January 11th (64 days later)
I still do not know the name of this Aloe.... but love he yellow flower!

January 11th (64 days later)


I'll add more update photo's as the situation on the ground here changes.

Here's a great read from "palmbob" that breaks down the parts of an Aloe which includes an in depth section on it's flowers: https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1173

Happy Gardening!

Updates


Additional Aloes that started blooming a bit later than the original post.

Aloe conifera with an early inflorescence
Aloe conifera December 30th
Aloe conifera stays small; it grows to about 18 inches but stays a very nice reddish-lavender color year round. This particular specimen has been in the ground for 3 years and was purchased as a 5 gal sized plant. It's bloomed for me every year so far.

February 1st, 2020


Aloe striata on December 18th
Aloe arborescens on December 18th


Aloe cryptopoda on December 18th


Aloe cryptopoda on February 8th


Aloe kedongensis January, 24th
I only just noticed today (Jan 24th) that Aloe kedongensis is has started an inflorescence.


Comments

  1. I'm envious. The downside of planting small specimens is that you have to wait forever to see blooms. My own Aloe wickensii has been in the ground almost 5 years now and has shown no inclination to bloom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I may have lucked out with this A. wickensii - it was a smallish 5gal plant when I bought it roughly 3 yrs ago. It just likes that spot for some reason. I'd say the A. thraskii has grown the fastest and bloomed after being in the ground for only a year. I think it was a bargain at ~$35 for a good size 5 gal plant which saves you a few years of waiting :) Not every plant needs to be big but it's nice to have a few... at least that's I justify it to myself.

      Delete
  2. Beautiful, yes, yes. Yours are ahead of mine. Here just thraskii and suprafoliata so far. It's still unfortunately quite warm here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kinda interesting that just ~400 miles could make a difference in bloom times - but there's probably other micro-climate stuff going on too.

      Delete
  3. Could your unknown aloe be 'Moonglow'?

    I love how blue your ferox is. Mine is a paler green, nowhere near as nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the potential id! By coincidence I was at a local nursery this past weekend and they had an A. 'Moonglow' in bloom and I thought to myself "Hmmm... that flower looks very familar!" My plant came from a big box garden store years ago - it was languishing under a bench with no label... forgotten. A few years later it suffered from a severe case of Aloe mite. After a lot of procrastination - I cut off all vegetation down to a stump expecting I'd need to just throw it all away. Surprisingly it grew back to what's pictured in this post within 2 growing seasons.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts