![]() even seen some grow these in sandy soils. I have seen them growing in clayey soils in Golden Gate park, decomposed granite in Berkeley botanical gardens, in heavy organic soil in private gardens and they seem to do equally well in all soil types in Northern Cal. They plant them in the same type of soil in northern California, but climate is the key difference there. Mine were always planted in a nice, very well draining mix (never planted mine in the ground) so don't think soil was a problem. Mine lasted for a few years, and there are about 50 days over 100 during those few years, and most of them did not seem to affect the plant negatively, but I think over time it was a problems. I think it's climate (and so do most aloe specialists). but success with this aloe is poor across the board. very well draining in much of it (only in a few spots are we plagued with clay). One thing about most of So Cal is the soils are pretty nice. It is prone to mealy bug infestation as well as environmental stresses. I have 'grown' this plant on many occasions, but as most of us southern Californians find, it is a difficult plant and all my attempts eventually met in failure. but it has been easily propagated in cultivation so young plants are easy to find anywhere aloes are sold. It is an extremely endangered species thanks to over collection. This aloe does not like the heat nor intense solar radiation, and often suffers if tried to make it grow in such conditions. Aloe polyphylla is a unique species native to the high, foggy mountains of northern South Africa where temps rarely get very hot nor does the sun shine all that much. Many excellent examples can be seen on the Davesgarden web site. However many grow this to perfection in northern California. ![]() Sadly I have few pictures of this plant in its glory as this is one of the few aloes that perform pretty poorly in southern California for the most part. Aka the spiral Aloe, so named due to its amazing ornamental geometric spiral shape the leaves form in mature plants. ![]()
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