Aloes are some of the most striking plants in the dry landscapes of Africa, there are over 500 species of flowering succulent plants.  Aloes come in a variety of growth forms, from small to tall single-stemmed or branched trees.  The leaves of the aloe are lance or sword-shaped in outline and boat-shaped in cross-section.  Most Aloe species have a rosette with large and thick fleshy leaves, the flowers are tubular and are frequently yellow, orange, pink and red.

Aloes are xerophytes with structural and physiological adaptations for survival.  The majority of Aloe species are found in arid or semi-arid regions.  They occur in a wide range of habitats, including dry forests, open woodland, grassland, bare rock surfaces and cliff faces.  Some grow near the coast, almost at sea level, and only a few occur at altitudes up to 10,000 feet.

DISTRIBUTION OF ALOES

The genus of Aloe occurs throughout most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, in the Arabian Peninsula, on Madagascar and smaller islands in the Indian Ocean.  The most widespread of the aloes is Aloe myriacantha, which is found in northern Kenya and down to the southeastern parts of the Republic of South Africa in Eastern Cape Province.

USES OF ALOES

One of the most frequent and widespread use of aloes is as an ornamental plant, some artificial hybrids have been created for this purpose.  Many species are used for landscaping in tropical and sub-tropical climates and as general landscapes and container gardens in areas with low or erratic rainfall.  Many different soil types support aloes in the wild, though most species are tolerant of  any kind of soil in cultivation.  Some arborescent species are used as street trees in Africa i.e., Aloe bainesii and A. dichotoma.  Smaller growing species are best suited for an indoor windowsill plant such as Aloe aristata.  

The second most frequent use of aloes is as an medicinal herb.  Aloes have been collected for their medicinal qualities since classic times and as ornamentals for several hundred years. aloe species contain compounds that are of medicinal value, and traditional healers have used the plants in herbal medicine for centuries.  In medicinal history Aloe vera has been cultivated around the tropics and sub-tropics as a medicinal plant for over 2500 years, this aloe species has been used for treating burns, rashes, acne, psoriases, rosacea,  athletes foot and  insect bits.

ALOE CHARACTERISTICS 

Most aloe species are leaf succulent xerophytes, having conspicuously fleshy leaves.  Only a few grass aloes such as Aloe myriacantha have leaves that are small and not fleshy.  Aloe leaves are simple usually with marginal teeth and in some species with teeth or prickles on the leaf surface.  Leaves may be rosulate or dispersed along the stem.  Many rosulate species are described as acaulescent which means that the stem is so short that only the leaf rosette can be seen as the plant.

Jacaranda trees are tropical beauties with clusters of fragrant, purple, trumpet-shaped blooms which are 1-1/2 inch long curved with inner white throats.

 

The heaviest-flowering happens when grown in full sun, it can tolerate light shade and will grow quickly. Jacarandas often have an  open, irregular and oval headed growth habit; its stout trunk, gray rectangular flaked bark and alternately arranged finely divided bipinnately compound leaves that are at least a foot long and composed of 1/2 inch long narrow elliptical leaflets that give the tree a delicate fernlike appearance.

Jacarandas thrive in sandy, well-drained soils but should be watered during dry periods.  Plant in full sun with occasional deep summer watering and preferably in a soil that drains well.

Jacarandas will often survive in heavier soils but growth is slow and sometimes stunted; flowers and leaves may cause a lot of litter when they drop. 

Jacaranda trees tend to form vertical suckers when pruned that distort the shape of the tree.  If pruning, only remove broken or diseased branches; so avoid pruning your Jacaranda.

Scientific Name: Jacaranda mimosifolia

Common Name: Jacaranda

Family Name: Bignoniaceae                        Origin: Brazil                 

Plant Type: Tree                                                 Leaf Type: deciduous

Density: open                                                      Texture: fine                

Height ft. 25′-40′                                              Width ft. 15′-30′  

Form: irregular, oval                                          Growth Rate: fast                 

Leaf Type: bipinnately compound, odd-pinnately compound    

Leaf Arrangement: alternante                  

Leaf Shape: obovate; rhomboid                  Leaf Size: 2″ 

Leaflet Size:                                                          Leaf Margin: entire    

Leaf Color: green                                                Leaf Fragrance: yes   

Flower Showy: yes                                            Flower Cluster Type: panicle 

Flower Season: Spring – Summer               Cut Flower: no     

Flower Fragrance: yes    

Flower Color: purple, blue, lavender        Fruit Type: round, pod-like  

Fruit Size: 1-3″                                                    Fruit Edible: no 

Fruit Color: brown                                             Fruit Showy: yes             

Bark Color: gray-brown                                 Root Type: surface roots                

USES: : large parking lot islands, wide lawns, shade trees, specimen tree, residential street tree, mass planting.                             

Sun Exposure: full sun                                    Climate:  zones 12-24

Water: water during dry periods, deep and infrequent.    

Pruning: no   

Propagation: cuttings, grafting, seeds                

COMMENTS: Pruning Jacarandas will spoil their good looks, and the tree’s shape. When you prune a Jacaranda it then sends up vertical shoots. The normal shape for a Jacaranda is that of an elegant umbrella, and the appearance of vertical branches ruins its good looks. 

Jacarandas are well-suited for cooling patios, but should not be used near pools due to the abundant leaf and flower drop.

Red Yucca is  stemless clumping, arching succulent which has spreading grass-like foliage 3-6 feet tall.  The leathery long, narrow blue-green leaves have deep grooves and white fraying fibers along the margins.  Clumps can spread slowly up to 4 feet in width and in mid-summer the clusters of rose-pink flowers are borne on tall red flower stalks which are 6 feet in length that arch up and outward.  Flowers open from the bottom up and are attractive to hummingbirds. Individual rosettes only flower once and are replaced by younger ones.  Red Yucca is drought tolerant and does best in full sun or partial shade and likes well-drained soils. It is a good plant for desert and succulent gardens, planted in masses or used in pots.   Occasional irrigation is recommended in summer to encourage flowering but do not over water.

 

Scientific Name: Hesperaloe parviflora

Common Name: Red Yucca

 Family Name: Agavaceae                                                                                Origin: Chihuahuan desert of west Texas east and south into central and South Texas and northeastern Mexico around Coahuila.

Plant Type: perennial                                               

Leaf Cover:   evergreen                                   Density: open

Texture: medium                                                Height ft. 2’-6’

Width ft. 4’                                                            Form: clumping  

Growth Rate: slow-moderate                      Leaf Type: simple 

Leaf Arrangement: basal                              Leaf Shape: lanceolate

Leaf Size: 3’-4’                                                     Leaf Margin: develops threads

Leaf Tip:   acute                                                   Leaf Color: gray-green  

Flower Sex:   Hermaphroditic                      Flower Showy:   showy   

Flower Size: 1.25”                                          

Flower Cluster Size: 5’                                                                    

Flower Season: spring-summer                                                                   

Flower Color: pink, red, yellow        

Fruit Type: cap                                                    Fruit Size: 1 ¼”     

Fruit Edible: no                                                   Fruit Color: brown  

Fruit Showy: no                                                  Root Type: moderate 

Branching: basal clump                 

USES: background, container plant, flower effect, foliage effect, low maintenance, mass planting, rock garden, specimen plant, great choice for pool landscapes.                        

Soil Texture:  well drained                           Soil pH: alkaline  

Soil Moisture: dry to moist                         Sun Exposure: full sun   

Hardiness:  hardy 10 or less                       Climate: heat, drought, aridity

Water: sporadic                                                Fertilizer:  never                    

Pruning: remove old foliage        

Propagation: division or seed                                        

COMMENTS: Individual flowers are bell shaped.   Fruit contains flat black seeds

Parry’s Penstemon is a desert wildflower native to Southern Arizona, Northern Mexico, and the Sonoran Desert.  This perennial blooms late February through early May.  In its native habitat plants flower in their second year; if cultivated flowers will usually bloom in the first year.

Leaves are bluish-green and at the base emerge the flower stalks, which are 1 to 3 feet in height and topped with pink deep-throated flowers attracting lots of hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and birds.

This lowland desert species thrives in full sun to partial shade and can survive on average rainfall, but not prolonged drought.  Plants are self-fertile and produce copious amounts of seeds.  With good rains seedlings will germinate, grow and bloom within a few months.  Division is possible, but seeds are the primary means of propagation.  

(hover mouse over each picture)

Scientific name: Penstemon parryi    

Common name: Parry’s Penstemon, Parry’s Beardtongue, Desert Penstemon

Family name: Scrophulariaceae

Origin: Southern Arizona, Northern Mexico, and the Sonoran Desert

Plant type: Perennial                          Leaf cover: Evergreen                              

Density: open                                         Texture: fine

Height ft.  2-4′                                        Width ft. 6″            

Form: upright                                          Growth Rate: fast                

Leaf Type: lanceolate                          Leaf Arrangement: rosette 

Leaf Shape: arrow shaped                Leaf Size: 6″                    

Leaf Color: bluish-green                    Leaf Fragrance: none     

Flower Sex: Hermaphroditic           Flower Showy: showy                             

Flower Cluster Type: wide funnel                

Flower Size: 3/4″                                  

Flower Season: Late February to early May  

Cut Flower: no                                      

Flower Fragrance: none                 

Flower Color: pink                            

USES: alkali tolerant,  background effect, border effect, flower effect, foliage effect, hillside, low maintenance, rock garden.

Comments: Removal of flowering stalks just as seed is forming will stimulate more blooms and prolonged life of plant.  Irrigating in the summer will enhance next years blooms.

This is an attractive small tree with very beautiful flowers.  The foliage and bark are drought tolerant and handles windy and coastal conditions.  It is a bit messy for a patio or near the pool but breathtaking elsewhere in the garden.  Birds eat the fruit and the flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  Though the fruit are sweet, they are considered slightly toxic to humans when fresh. Indigenous people make jellies and dyes from the fruit and use the wood for firewood and light carpentry.  This plant has a native range that extends from Rio Grande valley of southern Texas south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico.

This large shrub  can be trained up as a small tree with attractive bark and a rounded shape to 12  feet in height, 8-10 feet in width in zones 8-24.  The leaves on the Mexican Olive have thick long ovate leaves that are soft lightly fuzzy texture to the touch but harden with age and are gray-green above and pale below.

The flowers bloom year round but in peak season blooms are during spring into summer.

Flowers are often present nearly year-round usually in clusters of 2 inch wide funnel-shaped white flowers with yellow throats and petals that have a crepe paper texture.  These are followed by yellow-green olive-like fruit that slightly resemble an olive.  Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil with occasional to very little water; tip frost damage will occur down to the mid 20’s°.

(hover mouse over each picture)

Scientific name: Cordia boissieri    

Common name: Mexican Olive, Texas Olive, Anacahuita, Anacahuite, White Cordia

Family name: Boraginaceae (Borage Family)

Origin:  Rio Grande Valley of Texas south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico

Plant type: Tree or Shrub

Leaf cover: evergreen and Semi-evergreen                                 

Density: medium- high                                                   

Texture:  soft-light fuzzy

Height ft.  15′                                              Width ft.  10′ – 12′                

Form: symmetrical                                    Growth Rate: slow                 

Leaf Type: broadleaf                                Leaf Arrangement: alternate

Leaf Shape: Ovate                                    Leaf Size: 2-3 inches                

Leaflet Size:                                                 Leaf Margin: entire                 

Leaf Tip: acute – obtuse                          Leaf Base:                 

Leaf Surface: Scabrous, Tomentose

Leaf Color: gray green                 

Leaf Fragrance: none                               Flower Sex: Hermaphroditic           

Flower Showy: showy                             Flower Grouping: 3-8   

Flower Cluster Type: wide funnel     Flower Size: 2”    

Flower Cluster Size: 8-10″                  Flower Season: year round     

Cut Flower: no                                            Flower Fragrance: none                 

Flower Color: white                                 Fruit Type:  Drupe

Fruit Size: 1/2″ – 1″                                   Fruit Edible: no 

Fruit Color: purple to reddish-brown                                 

Fruit Showy: no    

Fruit Season:                                                Bark Type:     

Bark Color: brown                                     Root Type: moderate    

Wood Strength: moderate                    Branching: upright

USES: alkali tolerant,  flower effect, foliage effect, hillside, low maintenance, rock garden, container garden.

Soil Texture: clay                                        Soil pH:   alkaline  

Soil Moisture:   dry to moist                  Sun Exposure: full sun  

Hardiness:   Hardy 8-24                                      

Climate:   heat, drought, aridity, smog, wind, salt/sea spray                            

Water: low water needs                             Fertilizer: usually not needed    

Pruning: prune for strong structure       

Propagation: seeds or cuttings         

Comments: no known pests