ALOE PIENAARII SEEDS INDIGENOUS SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCULENT IN PORT ELIZABETH

Aloe pienaarii was formally described by Pole Evans in . In it was sunk into Aloe cryptopoda but it has been upheld in our neighbouring countries and is now resurrected in South Africa. It is solitary, or suckering to form small groups of plants. Normally they are acaulescent or they have a very short stem. The leaves are held in a compact rosette and are dark greyish-green. The tips are tinged reddish in dry conditions. The leaves are slightly rough on the surface and without spots. It is found in Mozambique, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland and southern Tanzania on the Mozambique border. It grows mainly on very thin soil in rocky slopes, usually steep and exposed with little or no grass. Aloes are very popular and some of the most rewarding plants to cultivate. They make excellent accent plants owing to their often strange and inspiring architectures, as well as the bright flowers that offset the grey-green leaves. They are also very suitable as container plants and small aloes can be used very effectively as border plants at the edge of a bed. Although aloes are most often included in rockeries, their application in horticulture is not limited to this feature and they can be used in almost any setting and in conjunction with most common garden plants. Aloes can tolerate long periods of drought, but it is not true that watering should be withheld to obtain optimal growth. Stressed plants are more susceptible to insects and pests. Plants flourish, flower better and are more resistant when given adequate water during the growing season. However, be very cautious not to over-water aloes because they may rot if they stay wet for too long. Adequate drainage is essential.