Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Tangerine Aloe
Tangerine Aloe is a large, branching aloe grown for its tall spikes of bright orange flowers in winter, which hummingbirds visit. It is a cross of Cape aloe and torch aloe, and it builds into a multi-stemmed clump about 6 to 10 feet tall. It works as a focal point in a desert or low-water yard.
Best for: a winter focal point with orange flowers, a hummingbird stop in the cool months, and a tall accent in a low-water or desert yard.
It blooms in winter, when most of the yard is quiet. Branched stalks of tubular orange flowers rise well above the leaves.
Hummingbirds visit the orange tube flowers. Because it blooms in winter, it feeds them through the cool months.
It builds into a multi-stemmed clump about 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. Give it room to fill out as a centerpiece in a desert or low-water bed.
Soggy soil can rot the roots, so plant it where water drains away fast. It is rated to about 25°F, so cover it on colder nights.
- Closer group5 ft apart
- Looser group6 ft apart
Skip water for a few days to a week after planting so the roots can heal. Then water to get it rooted, never leaving the soil soggy.
Once rooted, water about every 2 weeks in the warm months. In a dry winter, when it grows, about a weekly drink helps if the soil drains fast.
It is rated to about 25°F once mature. On frosty nights, drape frost cloth or a sheet all the way to the ground, not plastic, and take it off in the morning.
Leaves turning orange-red are a stress sign from hot sun, heat or too little water. Check the water and the afternoon sun, and cut dead flower stalks.
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.
When does Tangerine Aloe bloom?
It blooms in winter, with tall, branched spikes of orange tube flowers standing well above the leaves.
How big does Tangerine Aloe get?
It grows about 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. It branches into a clump with several stems and rosettes.
What is Tangerine Aloe a cross of?
It is a cross of Cape aloe and torch aloe. Unlike Cape aloe, which grows on a single stem, it branches into a clump.
Does it bring hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds visit the orange tube flowers in winter.
Does it need full sun or shade?
It takes full sun or part sun. Most aloes in the Valley look better with some afternoon or filtered shade in summer.
How often should I water it?
Once rooted, water it about every 2 weeks in the warm months. Let the soil dry between drinks. In a dry winter, about a weekly drink while it grows, if the soil drains fast.
How cold hardy is Tangerine Aloe?
It is rated to about 25°F once mature. On colder nights, drape frost cloth or a sheet all the way to the ground, not plastic. Take it off in the morning.
Why are the leaves turning orange-red?
The leaves can take on an orange-red color when stressed by hot sun, heat or too little water. It is a stress sign, so check the water and the afternoon sun.
What soil does it need?
Plant it in soil that drains fast. Soggy soil can rot the roots, which is the main way aloes are lost.
Is Tangerine Aloe toxic to pets?
Yes. Aloe is toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing the leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
Does it die after it blooms like an agave?
No. Aloes keep living after they bloom and flower again the next season. Just cut off the dead flower stalks.
Tangerine Aloe for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Tangerine Aloe is a cross of Cape aloe and torch aloe that grows into a tall, branching clump. It sends up orange flower spikes in winter, and hummingbirds come to them. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and sun to 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.
Tangerine Aloe, a winter-blooming tree aloe cross
Tangerine Aloe is a cross of Cape aloe and torch aloe. It grows into a branching clump with several stems. Its orange flower spikes come in winter.
When does Tangerine Aloe bloom in Arizona?
It blooms in winter, like most aloes in the Valley, which flower from late winter into spring. The spikes of orange tube flowers rise well above the leaves. Hummingbirds come to feed on them.
How big does Tangerine Aloe get?
It reaches about 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. It fills out as a clump of stems and rosettes. Give it room as a centerpiece plant.
Sun and water for Tangerine Aloe in Phoenix
It takes full sun or part sun. Most aloes in the Valley look better with some afternoon shade in summer. Once rooted, water about every 2 weeks in the warm months and let the soil dry between drinks.
Is Tangerine Aloe cold hardy?
It is rated to about 25°F once mature. On colder nights, cover it with frost cloth or a sheet draped to the ground, not plastic. A tree canopy overhead is often enough cover for many aloes.
Tangerine Aloe vs Cape Aloe
Cape aloe grows as a single tall stem with one big rosette. Tangerine Aloe branches into a clump with several rosettes. Both bloom in the cool season.
Caring for Tangerine Aloe
Plant it in soil that drains fast, because soggy soil can rot the roots. Cut off the dead flower stalks after bloom. That is the main pruning it needs.
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.