Saturday, May 24, 2008

Hanging aloes are adapted to a pensile life. These aloes are growing suspended as a rule and not because the seeds got stuck on a ledge. Many aloe species grow well on mountain slopes. As long as they have some grip in the soil they are happy, but that does not make them hanging or pensile aloes.

Aloe ferox just loves slopes. I doubt if anybody would think they are hanging. Just wanted to add the pretty scene.


Aloe dewinterii grows in the north west of Namibia on the steep dolomite slopes and high cliffs. On the cool side of a cliff is better than in the open sun but it can grow just as well on the ground usually on or under a dolomite rock.This plant has large leaves. The very soft pastel colors seem to be the rule in the Namibian aloes and the pale blue-green tinted with pink rosette is beautiful in the green garden . Next to the aloe is a dry bush, it is not old flower stalks.


Aloe comptoni growing in the Small Karoo. It also grows well on the mountain cliffs. On the ground it will grow creeping along with the upper part of the stem and rosette straight up and the old growth lying flat, later dying off. It looks better on a cliff. I would like to call it a hanging aloe but as it grows just as well on the flat ground it will not quite qualify.


At last. Aloe hardyi is a cliff hanger growing close against the cliff. The obvious way that it hugs the stone or edge over which it grows gives a lovely display in the garden over a wall. The flower stalk growing from the plant in the middle is visible on the photo. The inflorescens grows a little way horizontal and then it turns upwards. The thick aloe leaves are stiff. Pull out the plant where it is growing and the rosette with the leaves remain in the bended shape it had fitting over the stone. New leaves will adjust shape..
Aloe hardyi blooms in winter.



Another pending aloe named Aloe pendens from Yemen. It has a relative thin stalk by which it hangs down, but the rosette face horizontally and away from the cliff. The thick stiff leaves grow in the half circular shape, it is not soft and hanging down. Turn the plant upside down and it will look the same as when you turn the photo. (You will have to take my word as there is no way that I will uproot it to show my point.) The flower stalk grows a little way away from the
plant and then it turns upwards. The small flowers are pretty, shading red with green tips. Buds are not open yet on the photo below. Aloe pendens blooms every 5-6 months.

Aloe hardyii (from the northern parts of the Republic of South Africa) and Aloe pendens (from Yemen) can not really grow comfortable on flat ground. They probably would survive, anything is better than dying, but what will they look like bending and growing over each other?

The relative small grass-like Aloe ballii from Zimbabwe also grows hanging from cliffs. It is a very pretty aloe for a hanging basket. It grows fast and easy and blooms throughout the year. It would not fare too bad growing on flat ground except for the flower. The flower stalk is a thin soft thread hanging down and that would not function on flat ground. On the photo is an inset of the pretty flowersand on closer look you can see the flowers
PS. I have only one plant,  no seeds.



I built this wall for my pending aloes.
Aloe ballii is hanging on a branch to the right top in a basket . . Aloe hardyii is to the right on the wall and Aloe pendens (plant colour very much like the background) is in the middle. There are a few smaller aloe types on the top of the wall and some other succulent plants. The wall is very narrow and takes up little space but a lot can be planted on it. (flowers would be pretty too).

22 comments:

Esther Montgomery said...

So pleased to see new photos here.

The aloes on the wall look like a collection of octupusses - fascinating but creepy too!

Esther Montgomery

Tira said...

Very pretty pics. I am now getting into aloes and recently bought a small selection to add to my aloe vera and maculata. Such rewarding for very little effort plants.

ericat said...

nicole I tried to answer on your site but the loading is too slow. I get a blank.
Aloe maculata has a better gel than Aloe vera(barbadensis). take a portion from an old shriveling leaf at the bottom of the plant. Peel of the top skin but leave the bottom so that you have a place to grip. After you washed and dried your face and neck just rub it on lightly. You can use it repeatedly but keep the gel in the fridge.

Tira said...

Thanks, Ericat
I have a lot of pics on my posts so I believe that's why you couldnt get through.The url is
http://caribbeangarden.blogspot.com/

ericat said...

It is the window which opens for the comment. I found that with other sites too. Very slow and in your case it opened after a long time but it was blank. Maybe if you choose not to open that separate window ? Your site loads very well. I was so excited with the lovely photos - those that your husband took included ;-D The flowers are perfect. I loved the market but mainly the paintings and in your dream garden - that is a very pretty palm tree. I have not seen one like that here. (We have some endemic palms in southern Africa).
I hope you see this comment.

Anonymous said...

Hello from Canada..
Your pictures are amazing...
Gisela

Esther Montgomery said...

I was wanting to put you on my 'Blotanical Favourites' but I can't find you on the list - are you still there?

Esther

Anonymous said...

Until now, my most amazing viewing of aloes has been in Huntington Gardens (southern California), which devotes a couple of acres to them as well as echeverias, aeonias, and so on.

But even after seeing that collection several times, I had no idea there were hanging or creeping aloes. Great photos.

Anonymous said...

Hello Eurica,

My name is Meredith and I am a member of the blog team here at CalFinder. We just featured you in our 29 Unique Gardening Blogs:http://www.calfinder.com/blog/landscaping/29-unique-gardening-blogs/
We especially picked your blog because we really appreciate your dedication to blogging about aloe plants.

I would really appreciate your feed back about our blog. Its great to build global relationships in the blogosphere. Would you consider linking to our page? Is there anything we can do that would make our page more appealing to your readers? Let me know. Thanks!

Best Wishes,
Meredith
CalFinder
meredith@calfinder.com

Anonymous said...

hey eurica,
thanks so much for adding us to your blogroll. i noticed though that the link is broken. is there a way for you to fix that? thanks!
-Meredith

John said...

Your pictures of all the aloe varieties are great. I did not know aloe is so prolific in South Africa. Wonderful blog!

http://desertcontainergardening.blogspot.com/

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hello

I'm a neighbour of Esther Montgomery and I hope you don't mind that I've come over here to introduce myself.

My name is Lucy Corrander and I have a new blog called LOOSE AND LEAFY . It's different from Esther's blog - but I hope you will like it too.

Lucy Corrander
LOOSE AND LEAFY

Anonymous said...

Erica,
I have your blog now on my "blog list". If you have an update, I'll know..
Your pictures are fascinating as always.
-Cheers from Canada
Gisela.

David said...

Fascinating blog! Thanks for posting the amazing aloe photos. I wonder if I could impose upon you to take a peek at these photos on my blog and see if you can help identify this aloe which is blooming in the library where I work.[Click Link] If the link doesn't work here is the web address:
http://davidlevine.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/aloe-vera-seeds/

This magnificent aloe has flowered twice this year, making these seed pods the second time around. It's living in a very sunny corner window where it gets good light year round way up north in New Hampshire, USA. Thank you.

ericat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ericat said...

To ID that aloe is not easy. There are so many different species and as you have seen on my blog and my web site they differ a lot in growth and flowers. The same plant could appear to be different growing in shade or full sun. (will have to do a bog and show you). That aloe is not Aloe barbadensis common name aloe vera. It seems to be Aloe maculata or a hybrid with Aloe maculata. The flowers are the best clue when you ID an aloe as they remain the same whatever the growing conditions. I am impressed by the seeds. Most(by far) aloes are not self-fertile. They will not make seeds with their clones either. The small white thingies in the seedpods could be infertile seeds.
I doubt if the aloe will suffer damage leaving the seeds on the plant to ripen. Aloes suffer from watering and bad drainage - mainly.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

I've just put up a post about pictures from other people's blogs which have especially stuck in my memory.

Amongst these, I've mentioned your one of the big red aloe in the desert.

I can't work out how to make links to photos on blogs in situ so I'm wondering if you would mind if I copied it onto my blog - together with a link to yours.

I'd be grateful if you would let me know.

Lucy
LOOSE AND LEAFY

ericat said...

Hi Trina I see you used my blog to advertise your affiliate sales. I do not like that and most bloggers will agree with me on that.
I have a web page on my website with detail use of fresh out of the garden aloe gel. The result is impressive easy and very cheap. Most aloes can be used, it need not be aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis).

ericat said...

TRINA said...

Aloe vera is a product for every type of skin . it is a natural food flavoring and gives the result in few weeks. There is no side effects on any type skin aloe vera is a very highly effective in treating like pimples.i was used since last six months and give the results . so i am very happy to use this products. Hmm, vodka + aloe vera...interesting. Straight from the can/bottle, I still like Pokka brand Aloe vera + white grape juice the best. Avoid the + peach juice version though!

AMIH said...

I agree with you Ericat.

I deleted the 'Advert-Comment' as soon as it arrived as a copy in my email box.

Lucy

ericat said...

Sorry Trina on second thought I removed the links off your message. I do not mind links to sites and blogs, but not to an afialliate page.

Lee said...

Nice Blog :)