Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Sand Aloe
Sand Aloe is a low, ground-hugging aloe from the sandy, rocky country of Namibia and South Africa. It forms a single rosette or a small clump about 1 to 2 feet across, with pale blue-green leaves marked in white. From mid-winter into early spring it sends up branched flower heads in orange, pink or red, and hummingbirds visit them. It suits dry, well-drained ground in a desert yard.
Best for: a low blue-green accent in dry, rocky ground, orange to red flowers from mid-winter into spring, and hummingbirds in the cool season.
It grows as a single rosette or a small clump about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. The pale blue-green leaves carry white lines and spots.
Branched flower heads in orange, pink or red open from mid-winter into early spring. Hummingbirds come to feed on them.
It grows wild in rocky and sandy soil. Plant it in well-drained, rocky or sandy ground and water it carefully.
It rests in winter and needs to stay dry then. Wet winter soil and overwatering can kill it, so drainage matters most.
- Plant to plant2 ft apart
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 carefully in the warm months, about every 2 weeks once rooted. Keep it dry in winter, when it rests.
It is rated to about 21 to 25°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. Wet winter soil is a bigger risk than the cold.
In the hottest summers, some afternoon shade helps. Plant it in rocky or sandy ground so winter rain drains away.
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 Sand Aloe get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. It usually stays a single rosette, sometimes a small clump, about 20 inches across.
When does it bloom?
It blooms from mid-winter into early spring. The flower heads are branched and flat topped, in orange, pink or red.
Does it bring hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds visit the flowers in the cool season.
Does it do well in Arizona?
Yes. It is hardy in Phoenix and handles desert heat. It grows wild in rocky, sandy soil.
Does it need full sun?
It can take full sun. In the hottest summers it can look sun-stressed, and some afternoon shade helps, as it does for most aloes in the Valley.
How often should I water it?
Water carefully in the warm months, about every 2 weeks once rooted, and let the soil dry. Keep it dry in winter, when it rests.
How cold hardy is Sand Aloe?
It is rated to about 21 to 25°F and is hardy in Phoenix. Cold is less of a risk than wet soil in winter.
What soil does it need?
Plant it in well-drained, rocky or sandy soil. Alkaline desert soil is fine. Soggy soil can rot it.
What do the leaves look like?
Pale blue-green leaves with white lines on top and H-shaped spots underneath. The edges have small, sharp teeth.
Is Sand Aloe toxic to pets?
Yes. Aloe is toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing the leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
Sand Aloe for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Sand Aloe, Aloe hereroensis, is a low aloe from the sandy, rocky scrub of southwest Africa. It forms pale blue-green rosettes and flowers from mid-winter into early spring. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and sun to water, cold and flowers.
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Aloe hereroensis, the sand aloe
Sand Aloe grows wild in rocky and sandy soil in Namibia, Angola and South Africa. It is named for the Herero people of northern Namibia. It forms low rosettes of pale blue-green leaves.
Sand Aloe in Arizona
It is hardy in Phoenix and handles desert heat. In the hottest summers some afternoon shade helps. Give it rocky or sandy soil that drains well.
When does Sand Aloe bloom?
It blooms from mid-winter into early spring. The branched, flat-topped flower heads are orange, pink or red. Hummingbirds come to feed on them.
How big does Sand Aloe get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Most plants stay a single rosette about 20 inches across.
Watering Sand Aloe
Water carefully in the warm months and let the soil dry between drinks. Keep it dry in winter, when it rests. Good drainage is the key to keeping it.
Is Sand Aloe cold hardy?
It is rated to about 21 to 25°F. It is hardy in Phoenix. Wet winter soil is a bigger risk than cold.
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