PlantFiles: Aloe
Aloe jucunda

Looks best in some shade in the desert (bleaches out in too much sun), but otherwise handles the heat and a little frost just fine! Good potted plant or something to cram in small spaces and let the suckers fill in the spaces between stones. Reliable flowers.

this plant requires a minimum temperature of 50°F

low growing branching shiny rosettes about 2" diameter - no information on cold hardiness but went through my winter here in southern California, fully exposed, with temps down to 29F without any damage at all... so, a pretty good aloe it seems for So Cal. Does best with some sun protection, but can acclimate to full, hot sun eventually- turns reddish to a sad brownish color in sunshine... and grows more slowly. Flowers on simple stalk a pale pink all year round. Leaves are speckled and extremely stiff and almost 'plastic-like' in consistency with very tiny teeth. Looks like a miniature Aloe hemmingii, and in fact, sometimes can be confused with one, particularly if a relatively large clone. Flowers virtually identical to hemmingii flowers.

I have many of these growing in the yard, and so far, seems to do well in all situations except in full, hot, all day sun... those plants suffer a bit. Very easy species, and easy to find, too (commonly sold at outlet garden centers).

Temps near the bottom of this plant's range (zone 9b) will do significant damage, and plants exposed to the full brunt of a freeze without the benefit of any overhead protection at all will eventuallly turn to mush at about 25F.

Somalian native