Water Wise Plants

AL-oh stree-AH-tuh

Coral Aloe

Succulent

2 ft. to 3 ft. tall and 1 ft. to 2 ft. wide

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full sun

Red-orange

Like many succulents, Aloes are from South Africa. Aloe striata tolerates cold better than most aloes and grows successfully in the Bay Area. The large, broad, fleshy leaves and tall clusters of flowers are bold additions to the summer-dry perennial bed. As a bonus, hummingbirds and bees are attracted to its orange-red blossoms.

The only maintenance this plant needs is to cut back the inflorescence after the flowers have dropped off. Aloe striata is also easy to propagate. Remove the pups (baby plants) from the base of the plant, let the stems dry and harden, and then plant the cuttings in a pot of cactus soil mix.