Other Names:  Partridge Breast Aloe, Form. Aloe variegata

Description:

A clumping, stemless selection producing rosettes of dark green leaves, striped horizontally with light green to white; branched racemes of tubular orange-yellow flowers appear in winter or early spring; a wonderful garden or container accent

Ornamental Features

Tiger Aloe's attractive succulent sword-like leaves emerge light green in spring, turning dark green in color with prominent white stripes and tinges of coppery-bronze the rest of the year on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. It features dainty racemes of orange tubular flowers with green edges rising above the foliage from late winter to early spring.

Landscape Attributes

Tiger Aloe is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

Tiger Aloe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Tiger Aloe will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 10 inches. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Tiger Aloe is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.