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Asphodelaceae
Cape Aloe
Aloe ferox
Fierce protection.
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Genus
- Aloe
- Native to
- South Africa
- Bloom season
- Winter, Spring
- Type
- succulent
- Height
- 6-10 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 9-11
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Cape Aloe's bitter yellow sap (called 'aloe bitters') is commercially harvested and used worldwide as a natural laxative.
- The species name 'ferox' means 'fierce' in Latin, referring to the large reddish-brown spines covering the leaves.
- Sunbirds are the primary pollinators, and the nectar-rich flowers are a critical winter food source in the South African fynbos.
- It is sustainably wild-harvested by hand in South Africa, supporting rural communities who have tapped these plants for generations.
- A single leaf can weigh over 4 pounds and hold a remarkable amount of moisture in its thick, gel-filled interior.
Color meanings
0
strength
1
bitter truth