Aloe chabaudii
Family: Asphodelaceae, formerly Xanthorrhoeaceae​
​Common Names: cape aloe, gray aloe
Origin: Aloe chabaudii is native to eastern and southern Africa, originating from the lower slopes of hills, rocky granite outcrops, and rocky hillsides within Brachystegia woodland. The species forms dense colonies and occupies elevations from 30 - 2,130 meters.
Description: A. chabaudii is an evergreen succulent that develops compact, spiral rosettes, broad, tapering, and lanceolate in form. Plants are stem-less, or with a very short stem. The fleshy leaves are pale glaucous to blue-turquoise, but are often flushed pink or red along the margins, which possess small teeth. In mid-winter, the multi-branched panicle inflorescence will bloom, including up to 15 racemes of coral or red flowers. Over time, A. chabaudii will sucker and develop dense colonies.
  • Interesting Features:
    • ​Because of its reddish-pink coloring, the cape aloe is considered one of the most striking aloe in cultivation.
    • Young plants are white-spotted, but mature specimens lack spots, although occasionally possessing faint lines.
    • The specific epithet, chabaudii, is named for John A. Chabaud, a South African botanist who grew the species within his gardens.
  • Uses: A. chabaudii is used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of human ailments, including nausea and blood in urine, as well as to improve the health of poultry and treat parasites in cattle.
    • The species has also been used as a laxative and abortifacient, but may result in long-term health defects if over-utilized.

Cultivation and Care:
  • Watering: Low
    • Water weekly during the summer, but only once a month or not at all during winter.
    • A. chabaudii is drought tolerant, yet will flower and exhibit the best growth when properly irrigated. 
  • Soil: Provide a good quality substrate that is loamy, sandy, and well-draining, adding drainage chips to the bottom of the pot if necessary.
    • At the same time, maintain a soil pH of 6.1-7.8.
  • Lighting: A. chabaudii prefers full sun, but will also grow in partial shade.
  • Propagation: Cape aloe can be propagated through seed, suckers, truncheons, and stem cuttings. Yet, propagation occurs almost exclusively through seed, which should be planted in coarse river sand during autumn. ​Cover and keep moist until seedlings are large enough to transplant.
    • Suckers and offsets can simply be removed, and cuttings should be taken directly below a node root, which will root easily. Allow to dry for a few hours before placing in rooting medium and maintain moisture until roots form.
    • Lastly, propagation is also possible through truncheons, but the process is difficult and often not successful. 
  • Cold Tolerance: 20°F, USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11.
  • Special Accommodations: A. chabaudii observes better growth when grown outdoors in spring and summer, but should be sheltered from frost in the winter months.
    • When grown under adequate conditions, a variety of habitats are tolerated, including granite slopes, shady wooded slopes, and vertical cliffs.

Sources:​
  1. Llifle Encyclopedia of Succulents. 
  2. Useful Tropical Plants.
  3. Dave's Garden.
  4. Cycad Palm.
  5. Succulents Plant Site.
  6. JSTOR.
  7. Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases.
  8. Garden.