Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Candy Corn Aloe
Candy Corn Aloe is a garden cross of Aloe vaotsanda and Aloe divaricata, also sold as 'Fire Ranch'. Its long, arching leaves are green and take on red to purple tints in strong sun. In winter it sends up dark orange flowers, and hummingbirds visit them. It is grown in pots, rock gardens and as a specimen plant.
Best for: a pot or specimen spot with leaf color, dark orange winter flowers for hummingbirds, and a rock garden in a frost-free spot.
The leaves are green in medium light and take on red to purple tints in strong sun. Summer brings out the deepest red.
Dark orange flowers open in winter above the arching leaves. Hummingbirds come to feed on them.
It is grown in containers, rock gardens and as a specimen plant. A pot makes it easy to move under cover on frosty nights.
It is frost tender, rated to only about 30 to 35°F, so it needs cover or shelter in cold snaps. Too much water can rot it, so let the soil dry between drinks.
Give it a few days to a week without water after planting. After that, water it on a steady schedule until new growth shows it has rooted, and let the soil dry in between.
Water only when the soil is dry and keep it drier in winter. Take care not to overwater it.
It is rated to only about 30 to 35°F, so it is frost tender. 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 pot makes it easy to move under shelter.
Strong light turns the leaves red to purple, and summer brings the deepest red. In medium light they stay green.
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.
Is Candy Corn Aloe the same as Fire Ranch?
Both names are used for the same cross, Aloe vaotsanda and Aloe divaricata, and nurseries sell it under either name.
How big does Candy Corn Aloe get?
It can grow about 1.5 to 4 feet tall and about 1.5 feet wide. It branches as it grows.
Why are the leaves turning red or purple?
Strong light turns the leaves red to purple, and summer brings out the deepest red. In medium light they stay green.
When does it bloom?
It blooms in winter, with dark orange flowers above the arching leaves.
Does it bring hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds come to the flowers, so plant it where you can watch them from a window or patio.
How cold hardy is Candy Corn Aloe?
It is frost tender, rated to about 30 to 35°F. On frosty nights, cover it with frost cloth or a sheet, or move a potted plant under shelter.
How often should I water it?
Water only when the soil is dry, and keep it drier in winter. Take care not to overwater it. About every 2 weeks in the warm months is typical for aloes in the Valley.
Does it need full sun?
It can take full sun. In the Valley, most aloes look better with some afternoon or filtered shade in summer.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. It is grown as a container plant. Use a gritty mix and a pot with a drainage hole.
Is it toxic to pets?
Yes. Aloe is toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing the leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
Candy Corn Aloe for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Candy Corn Aloe, also sold as 'Fire Ranch', is a cross of Aloe vaotsanda and Aloe divaricata. It grows arching green leaves that tint red to purple in sun, with dark orange flowers in winter. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard or pot, from size and color to sun, water and cold.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Candy Corn Aloe, also sold as Fire Ranch
Candy Corn Aloe is a garden cross of Aloe vaotsanda and Aloe divaricata. Nurseries sell it as Candy Corn or as 'Fire Ranch'. It has long, arching leaves.
Candy Corn Aloe leaf color
The leaves are green in medium light. In strong sun they tint red to purple, and summer brings the deepest red.
When does Candy Corn Aloe bloom?
It blooms in winter with dark orange flowers. Hummingbirds come to feed on them.
Is Candy Corn Aloe frost hardy?
No, it is frost tender, rated to about 30 to 35°F. In the Valley, cover it on frosty nights or grow it in a pot you can move under shelter.
Watering Candy Corn Aloe
Water only when the soil is dry, and keep it drier in winter. Use gritty soil that drains fast. Overwatering is the main thing to avoid.
Candy Corn Aloe in pots
It is often grown in containers. A pot with a drainage hole and a gritty mix suits it. It also fits rock gardens and specimen spots.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.