Giant Succulent Tree Aloe

Tree Aloe - Africa's largest aloe reaching up to 15 m in height with up to 0.9 m in stem diameter.

Tree aloe is an indigeous succulent tree to Africa with winter flowering on a neat rounded crown (Afrikaans: boomaalwyn, mikaalwyn), enjoys a mild climate with rainfall on average of 1 200mm per year, with little or no frost. It is one of an estimated 350 species of Aloe spead throughout Africa, surrounding islands and Arabian Peninsula.

Plant trees away from the home rooting system not suggested close to buildings a popular succulent in the garden, with grey smooth bark, green recurved leaves flowering in the winter months presenting colour along with sunbirds bees and insects visiting to pollinate.

Fast growing trees, easy to cultivate they are a popular choice for gardeners with their unusual architectural shape, normally seen as feature plants in rock gardens in parks, they enjoy full sun or semi-shaded areas.

Not much going by way of medicinal use, by what I understand the juice of the leaves may be used as a purgative. Not like Aloe Vera which is used extensively.

Succulents, we have a great variety spread throughout the country, some small others large, many used in herbal medications or creams.

First 2 photo's seen in the Igwala Gwala Forest Trail in St Lucia, KwaZulu Natal. Second 2 photo's, with flowering photo is taken in the Amazimtoti Library Gardens, full tree aloe photo in Mhlopeni Nature Reserve.

Photography has been resized for Steemit (to allow easier transfer on slow internet connection), no software manipulation on my photography, keep it true to what you see.

Thought for Today: Around a flowering tree, there are many insects. ~ African proverb