Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Aloe peglerae
Aloe peglerae is a small, single-rosette aloe from the Magaliesberg hills of South Africa. Its grey-green, toothed leaves curve inward into a rounded, ball-like head about 1 to 1.5 feet across. In late winter it sends up a dense spike of dull red buds that open yellow, which is why it is called red hot poker aloe. It is grown as a sculptural accent in a rock garden or a pot.
Best for: a rounded accent in a rock garden or pot, and a red and yellow flower spike in late winter.
The grey-green, toothed leaves curve inward into a rounded head about 1 to 1.5 feet across. It grows as a single rosette.
A dense, mostly unbranched spike of dull red buds opens to yellow flowers in late winter. Bees and other pollinators visit them.
It is grown in rockeries and containers in full sun. Soil that drains fast suits it best.
It rests in winter and needs to stay totally dry then. Wet soil in cold weather is the main risk, so drainage matters most.
After planting, wait a few days to a week before the first drink so any broken roots can heal. Then water it regularly until it roots in, letting the soil dry between drinks.
Water lightly in the warm months once rooted, about every 2 weeks, letting the soil dry. Keep it totally dry in winter, when it rests.
It is rated to the low 20s°F when kept dry. On frosty nights, drape frost cloth or a sheet all the way to the ground, not plastic, and take it off in the morning. A tree canopy overhead also helps.
Cut the spent flower spike off at the base once it finishes in late winter. It grows as a single rosette, so there are no pups to split.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Aloe peglerae get?
It grows slowly to about 1 to 1.5 feet tall and wide as a single rosette. It suits a pot or a small spot in a rock garden.
Does it make pups?
No. It usually grows as a single rosette rather than a clump, so buy one plant for each spot.
When does it bloom?
It blooms in late winter, when a dense spike of dull red buds opens to yellow flowers. Cut the spike off once the flowers fade.
Why is it called red hot poker aloe?
Its dense flower spike of red buds opening yellow looks like the red hot poker flower, which gives it the nickname.
Does it need full sun?
It is grown in full sun. In the Valley, most aloes look better with some afternoon shade in summer.
How often should I water it?
Water it lightly in the warm months, about every 2 weeks once rooted. Keep it totally dry in winter, when it rests.
How cold hardy is Aloe peglerae?
It is frost hardy to the low 20s°F when kept dry, and wet soil in cold weather is the bigger risk. Keep it dry in winter and cover it on the coldest nights.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. It is grown in containers. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a gritty mix.
Is it rare?
Yes, in the wild. It grows only in a small area of South Africa and is threatened by habitat loss, so buy nursery-grown plants like ours.
Is it toxic to pets?
Yes. Aloe is toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and chewing the leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. Plant it where pets cannot chew on it.
Aloe peglerae for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Aloe peglerae is a small South African aloe that grows as a single rounded rosette of grey-green leaves. It flowers in late winter on a dense red and yellow spike. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard or pot, from size and sun to water, cold and flowers.
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Aloe peglerae, the red hot poker aloe
Aloe peglerae grows wild only in the Magaliesberg and Witwatersrand of South Africa. It forms a single rounded rosette of grey-green, toothed leaves. Its dense red and yellow flower spike gives it the name red hot poker aloe.
How big does Aloe peglerae get?
It grows slowly to about 1 to 1.5 feet tall and wide. It usually stays a single rosette.
When does Aloe peglerae bloom?
It blooms in late winter. Dull red buds on a dense spike open to yellow flowers.
Watering Aloe peglerae in Arizona
Water lightly in the warm months once rooted. Keep it totally dry in winter, when it rests. Soil that drains fast is essential.
Is Aloe peglerae cold hardy?
It is frost hardy to the low 20s°F when kept dry. Cover it with frost cloth or a sheet on the coldest nights.
Aloe peglerae in pots and rock gardens
It is grown in rockeries and containers in full sun. A pot with a drainage hole and a gritty mix suits it.
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