Aloe schoelleri - 7ga

Pickup only - not available for shipping

Aloe schoelleri is a solitary, cliff-dwelling aloe from Eritrea that forms a compact rosette 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, bearing broad, thick deltoid leaves that shift from green to gray-green or purple depending on water availability. The leaves have bright red margins with evenly spaced red teeth, and they tend to recurve under dry conditions or stand more erect when grown with regular irrigation; in cultivation they may show slightly rough or sandpapery surfaces and can develop short stems over time. In mid-spring the plant produces tall, lightly branched inflorescences with densely packed peach to pastel orange flowers, each with exserted bright orange stamens that contrast with the paler petals. Native to the Amba Souara Gorge at the edge of the Kohaito Plateau, it was described in 1894 by Georg Schweinfurth and named for Max Schoeller, later fading from the literature until rediscovered and reintroduced to cultivation through collectors such as John Lavranos; it is considered closely related to Aloe rubroviolacea across the Red Sea. In gardens it prefers full sun, excellent drainage, and irrigation ranging from regular to occasional depending on climate, with drier conditions enhancing gray and purple tones. It is hardy to about 20°F, though flowers are more tender, and is best suited to USDA Zone 9b and warmer. Its solitary habit, variable foliage color, and spring bloom make it useful as an architectural focal point in dry gardens, rockeries, and cliff-style plantings, where it also serves as a nectar source for pollinators.