Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Starfish Aloe
Starfish Aloe is Aloe cameronii, a clumping aloe known for leaves that turn coppery red in sun and dry weather. It forms a mound of upright stems with open rosettes, about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. Bright orange-red flower spikes rise above it from late fall into winter, and hummingbirds visit them. It is used in low-water borders, rock gardens and pots.
Best for: red leaf color in a sunny, dry spot, orange-red flowers from late fall into winter, and a clumping accent in a border, rock garden or pot.
The leaves are green with regular water or shade, and turn coppery red in summer in full sun with little water. Dry cold weather can redden them too.
Upright spikes of bright orange-red flowers rise above the leaves from late fall into winter. Hummingbirds come to feed on them.
It grows as a clump of upright stems about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. It fits a low-water border, a rock garden or a container.
It needs sandy or gravelly soil that drains fast. It is rated to only the mid to upper 20s°F, so cover it on colder nights.
- Plant to plant4 ft apart
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.
Check the soil about once a week and water only now and then in the warm season. Less water brings out the red leaf color.
It is rated to the mid to upper 20s°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.
Full sun and little water turn the leaves coppery red. With regular water or shade they stay green. Cut the flower spikes after the winter bloom.
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.
Why is my Aloe cameronii green instead of red?
It stays green with regular water or in shade. The leaves turn coppery red in full sun with little water, mostly in summer. Dry, cold weather can redden them too.
How big does Starfish Aloe get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. It spreads as a clump of upright stems.
How fast does it grow?
It grows slowly, so expect a clump that fills in over several years. Give it room to spread when you plant it.
When does it bloom?
It blooms from late fall into winter. Bright orange-red flowers sit on upright spikes above the leaves.
Does it bring hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds visit the flower spikes.
Does it need full sun?
It takes full sun or part sun. Full sun gives the reddest leaves. In shade the leaves stay green.
How often should I water it?
Check the soil about once a week and water only now and then in the warm season. Let it dry between drinks. Less water brings out the red color.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated to about the mid to upper 20s°F. On colder nights, drape frost cloth or a sheet to the ground, not plastic.
What soil does it need?
Sandy or gravelly soil that drains fast. Soggy soil can rot the roots.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. It works as a container plant. 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.
Starfish Aloe for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Starfish Aloe, Aloe cameronii, is a clumping aloe from Malawi and Zimbabwe, grown for its coppery red leaves and orange-red winter flowers. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and color to sun, water, cold and care.
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.
Aloe cameronii, the red aloe
Aloe cameronii comes from Malawi and Zimbabwe. It is often called red aloe for its leaf color. It grows as a clump of upright stems with open rosettes of narrow leaves.
How to make Aloe cameronii turn red
Give it full sun and little water. The leaves turn coppery red in summer under those conditions. With regular water or shade, they stay green.
When does Aloe cameronii bloom in Arizona?
It blooms from late fall into winter. Bright orange-red flowers sit on upright spikes above the clump. Hummingbirds come to feed on them.
How big does Aloe cameronii get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. It grows slowly, filling in as a clump over several years.
Watering Aloe cameronii in Phoenix
Check the soil about once a week and water only now and then in the warm season. It needs sandy or gravelly soil that drains fast.
Is Aloe cameronii cold hardy?
It is rated to about the mid to upper 20s°F. Cover it with frost cloth or a sheet on colder nights, draped to the ground.
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.