Aloe plicatilis 'Fan Aloe'

Aloe plicatilis, commonly known as the Fan Aloe, is a distinctive aloe native to the mountains of the Western Cape in South Africa. It grows on rocky slopes in fynbos vegetation, where winters are cool and wet and summers are hot and dry. This small tree-like aloe can reach up to 5 m in height, branching from the base into multiple stems. Each stem terminates in a rosette of grey-green, strap-shaped leaves arranged in two opposite rows, giving a fan-like appearance. In late winter to spring, it produces clusters of tubular red flowers that attract sunbirds in its natural habitat. Its unique architecture and growth habit distinguish it from most other aloes.

Care Tips

• Light: Requires full sun to partial sun for best growth and flowering.
• Water: Adapted to winter rainfall; water more during the cooler months and sparingly in summer.
• Media: Grow in a sharply draining, sandy-gritty mix to replicate its rocky habitat.
• Fertiliser: Apply a low-nitrogen fertiliser occasionally during active growth.
• Temperature: Prefers mild conditions; tolerates light frost but not prolonged freezing temperatures.
• Repotting: Repot only when young or if container-grown plants outgrow their space; established plants prefer stability.