Walton's Plant Library

Description:

An extremely attractive aloe with succulent, spiny leaves that are slightly recurved, with showy cream spines down the edges; dark orange or pink flowers in summer; a beautiful accent or container plant

Ornamental Features

Hedgehog Aloe features showy spikes of orange tubular flowers with pink overtones rising above the foliage in late winter. Its succulent sword-like leaves emerge bluish-green in spring, turning grayish green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Hedgehog Aloe is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

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. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Hedgehog Aloe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

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

Planting & Growing

Hedgehog Aloe will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 20 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 20 inches. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

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. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Hedgehog Aloe is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.