Aloe Safari Sunrise

The Aloe 'Safari Sunrise' is a succulent that forms a beautiful rosette of dark green, evergreen, and tapering leaves with small teeth. In late winter, it produces upright flower stalks for 2 months, with tube-shaped flowers that start off cream, then turn salmon orange, and finally coral. It is not very hardy and is best suited for mild climates, but it also grows well in pots.

Aloes belong to the Asphodelaceae family. They are plants native to dry areas with (sub)tropical climates, with tapering triangular leaves, adorned with pointed teeth, and succulent: they store water as a thick gel, which allows them to withstand water scarcity. Aloe vera is well-known, used for centuries for its numerous dermatological properties (and extensively employed in cosmetics), but the genus comprises more than 500 species, mostly found in the southern part of the African continent.

The Aloe 'Safari Sunrise' is a recent variety, bred in South Africa in 2006. It belongs to the Safari series, which resulted from a long hybridisation program initiated in the 70s with the aim of obtaining compact, floriferous, and vigorous offspring. It perfectly meets these expectations as it forms a dense and bristly rosette, 30 cm (12in) in diameter, with many narrow leaves of a slightly greyish green. After a few years, lateral shoots appear, allowing the plant to spread or multiply without difficulty. In late winter, between February and April (later than most aloes), each rosette produces numerous 30 cm (12in) tall stems, each bearing a cluster of tubular flowers. The bud is cream beige, then turns salmon orange before finally becoming coral, in a very beautiful "savannah" colour scheme that gives this series of varieties its name. The flowering lasts for more than 2 months under good conditions.

The Aloe 'Safari Sunrise' is a resilient plant, capable of enduring periods of drought. However, it is not very hardy and will perish if exposed to temperatures below -5°C (23°F). Otherwise, its cultivation is quite simple: choose a very well-draining substrate, sandy or gravelly, in semi-shade or full sun. The spread-out roots do not like to be disturbed once in place. A very poor soil will decrease flowering, but a too-rich soil would make the plant susceptible to diseases. A mineral mulch will help limit evaporation while ensuring good drainage. The only maintenance required is to cut off dry flower stalks in late spring. It is possible for the plant to be infested with scale insects. In such cases, it is preferable to use black soap or a cotton swab if the infestation is limited, but the operation will need to be repeated.
Its compactness makes it an excellent choice for container cultivation: during winter, store it in a cold greenhouse or a well-lit conservatory. In spring, gradually expose the plant to prevent sunburn.

Pair your aloe with other plants from similar environments, such as Agapanthus, Kniphofia rooperi, Cylindropuntia imbricata, the rare Dietes bicolor, a cousin of the iris, or with a carpet of Delosperma 'Wheels of Wonder Fire' as ground cover; and of course, with other Aloes like A. aristata.