Aloe wickensii - 3ga

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Aloe wickensii is a medium-sized, solitary South African aloe that forms a dense, symmetrical rosette about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, with smooth grey-green leaves edged in small reddish-brown teeth and a habit suited to full sun, good drainage, and summer-rainfall watering patterns. Its upright to inward-curving leaves are lance-shaped, often reaching over 30 inches long, creating a compact, stemless profile that stays solitary and does not offset. In late winter, it produces tall inflorescences—often rising to 5 feet—with several densely flowered, conical racemes that begin as dark red buds before opening into bright yellow tubular flowers from the bottom upward, creating the characteristic bi-colored red-and-yellow effect. Native to the Limpopo region of northeastern South Africa, it grows on open bushveld slopes receiving mostly summer rainfall and was first collected in 1914 by John Edward Wickens, for whom the species is named; although once confused with Aloe cryptopoda, it is distinguished by broader floral bracts and consistent bi-colored blooming. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun with well-drained soil, benefits from occasional summer irrigation but tolerates drought, and should be kept drier in winter. Hardy to roughly 20–25 °F, it suits USDA Zone 9b and performs well in containers or dry landscapes. Because it remains solitary and compact while offering reliable winter flowers that attract pollinators, it is well suited for rock gardens, xeric borders, and focal plantings where structured form and seasonal color are desired.