Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Maiden's Quiver Tree
Maiden's Quiver Tree, now Aloidendron ramosissimum and long sold as Aloe ramosissima, is the shrubby cousin of the quiver tree. Instead of one trunk it branches from the base into a rounded bush of pale, peeling stems tipped with small rosettes, about 2 to 5 feet tall. Mature plants carry yellow flowers in winter. It is grown as a sculptural accent in a dry bed or a large pot.
Best for: a sculptural accent in a dry bed or large pot, a smaller alternative to the quiver tree, and yellow winter flowers.
It branches from the base with no main trunk, forming a rounded bush of pale, peeling stems tipped with rosettes. It is planted as a structural accent.
It stays about 2 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 5 feet wide, much smaller than the quiver tree. That size suits a dry bed or large pot.
It grows well in containers as an indoor and outdoor plant and is popular for bonsai. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a gritty mix.
It is delicate in Phoenix heat, so give it part shade or protection from late afternoon sun. Wet soil rots it, so plant it where water drains fast.
After planting, wait a few days to a week before the first drink so broken roots can heal. Then water regularly until it roots in, letting the soil dry between drinks.
Water minimally all year, a little more in the cool season when it grows. Let the soil dry fully between drinks.
It is rated to about 20 to 28°F. On frosty nights, drape frost cloth or a sheet all the way to the ground, not plastic, and take it off in the morning.
It is delicate in Phoenix summers. Give it part shade or protection from late afternoon sun.
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 it a real aloe?
It was long sold as Aloe ramosissima and is now Aloidendron ramosissimum. It has also been treated as a variety of the quiver tree.
How is it different from the Quiver Tree?
It branches from the base into a rounded shrub with no main trunk and stays much smaller, about 2 to 5 feet. Pick it when you want the quiver tree look in a smaller space.
How big does it get?
It slowly grows about 2 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 5 feet wide, so it fits a dry bed or a large pot.
When does it bloom?
Mature plants bloom in winter with yellow flowers at the branch tips. Cut the dead stalks off after the bloom.
Does it take full sun in Phoenix?
It takes full sun to part sun, but it is delicate in Phoenix heat. Give it part shade or protect it from late afternoon sun.
How often should I water it?
Give it very little water all year. It grows in the cool season, so water lightly then, and keep it in soil that drains fast.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated to about 20 to 28°F. Cover it with frost cloth or a sheet on freezing nights.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. It grows well in containers and is popular for bonsai. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a gritty mix.
Is it toxic to pets?
Yes. Aloe is toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing the leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy, so keep pets from chewing it.
Maiden's Quiver Tree for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Maiden's Quiver Tree, Aloidendron ramosissimum (formerly Aloe ramosissima), is a slow, shrubby tree aloe from the Richtersveld of southern Africa. It branches from the base into a rounded bush of pale stems. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard or pot, from size and sun to water, cold and flowers.
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Maiden's Quiver Tree, Aloidendron ramosissimum
Maiden's Quiver Tree comes from the Richtersveld along the border of South Africa and Namibia. It was sold for years as Aloe ramosissima and is now in the genus Aloidendron. It is endangered in the wild.
Maiden's Quiver Tree vs Quiver Tree
The quiver tree grows a single trunk and can become a tall tree. Maiden's Quiver Tree branches from the base into a shrub about 2 to 5 feet tall.
Maiden's Quiver Tree in Phoenix heat
It is delicate in Phoenix summers. Give it part shade or protection from late afternoon sun, and soil that drains well.
Watering Maiden's Quiver Tree
It needs little water all year and grows mainly in the cool season. Water minimally and let the soil dry fully.
Is Maiden's Quiver Tree cold hardy?
It is rated to about 20 to 28°F. Cover it on freezing nights, draped to the ground, not with plastic.
Maiden's Quiver Tree in pots
It grows well in containers and is popular for bonsai. Use a gritty mix and a pot with a drainage hole.
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