Tree aloe
Aloe arborescens · Asphodelaceae
📷 Zeynel Cebeci · CC BY-SA 4.0
⚠️ Latex et sève irritants pour contact peau/muqueuses; ingestion provoque diarrhée, nausées. Allergènes cutanés documentés.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around tree aloe and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, thick and fleshy
- Flowering
- June to August, red-orange tubular flowers in clusters
- Adult size
- Up to 4 m in height, upright and branched form
- Growth
- Moderate to slow
- Hardiness
- From 5-7°C (mild climate)
- Origin
- South Africa
- Soil type
- Well-drained, sandy or rocky
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability low.
Expert tips
The key tip
Candelabra Aloe thrives in very well-draining soil, even poor and sandy. Water sparingly and infrequently (every 15–20 days max in summer), almost avoid in winter.
The common mistake
Watering too often or placing it indoors with poor ventilation: roots rot and the plant declines without warning signs.
The pro's trick
Before winter, drastically reduce watering even in a mild climate.
Care
Watering
The Candelabra Aloe is extremely tolerant of drought. Water moderately in spring and summer when the soil is completely dry, then reduce to almost nothing in autumn and winter. Avoid excess water which causes root rot. Watering every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing period is sufficient.
Light Exposure
This plant requires a very sunny location to thrive. Place it in full sun, ideally 6 to 8 hours per day. In very hot regions, light afternoon shade can be beneficial. Insufficient light weakens the plant and slows its growth.
Pruning and Cleaning
The Candelabra Aloe requires little natural pruning. Remove dead or damaged leaves at the base. You can balance the shape after flowering by slightly shortening the main stems. Also eliminate basal shoots if you want a more compact form.
Fertilizing
Fertilize lightly during the growing period (spring and summer) with a succulent or cactus fertilizer, at half strength. One application every 2-3 months is plenty. In autumn and winter, stop all fertilizing. Overfeeding promotes soft growth and weakens the plant.
Soil and Repotting
Use very well-drained substrate: cactus potting mix or homemade mixture with garden soil, coarse sand and perlite in equal parts. Drainage is critical to prevent rot. Repot every 2-3 years in spring if the plant needs it, otherwise every 4-5 years.
Diseases and Pests
The main threat remains root rot due to stagnant moisture. Indoors or in humid climates, ventilate regularly. Watch for mealybugs and spider mites in very dry air; rinse with lukewarm water if needed. Aloes are generally robust when watering conditions are respected.
Did you know?
The Candelabra Aloe owes its name to its slender silhouette reminiscent of a branched candelabra: it can reach 4 meters tall with its upright branches. In South Africa, its red-orange tubular flowers are a precious food resource for nectar-feeding birds, particularly sunbirds, which pollinate them naturally. This plant symbolizes resilience and extreme adaptation to arid environments.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.