ALOES DOMINATE THE WINTER LANDSCAPE

The natural landscape and many gardens are filled with flowering aloes during the winter period. South Africa is home to well over one hundred different aloe species which have been cultivated and hybridised extensively. More and more gardens are being planted with aloes that endure the rigours of drought and summer heat with ease. Most of them bloom during the short-day length period from late autumn into winter. This lends colour to the winter scene and supplies much needed nectar to birds and insects during a period when food supplies dwindle.

Winter is the ideal time for planting new aloes into the garden. Selecting new plants whilst they’re in bloom allows for personal preferences to be taken care of. Aloes are tough, hardy plants that suffer little or no transplant trauma ensuring that they can be planted out whilst still in full bloom. There are all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours to look out for. A new range of miniature aloes is becoming all the rage these days. They’re ideal for pots, containers and smaller dish gardens.