This single-stemmed aloe will reach 6 to 9 feet in height; this one at Rice Canyon Demonstration Gardens currently stands at 4 ½ feet, planted when it just stood about 2 foot tall in 2010.

The leaves of the Bitter Aloe are arranged in a rosette and the older leaves remain on the stem after they have dried, forming an “undercoat”. The leaves are a dull green with a reddish tinge. The spines along the leaf margins are reddish-orange to reddish-brown in color.
The large inflorescence is 40 inches tall and has between five and eight branches, each spike is densely flowered, and racemes are cylindrical.

Blooming period occurs between May and August.

Aloe elgonica ‘Mt. Elgon Aloe’

Native to Kenya, this low growing and clumping forming aloe is distinguished by its densely rosulate leaves and wide pink teeth at the margins.

Mt. Elgon Aloe can grow 3-4 feet wide and 2-3 feet in height; its reddish leaves are recurved with the inflorescence reaching 15-27 inches in height.

The racemes are cylindrical and densely flowered, with ovate-acute floral bracts and the perianth is orange-scarlet with yellowing at the mouth.

This succulent is native to the south of San Luis Obispo to Baja California and northern Mexico, it’s found in steep open rocky areas, coastal, inland mountains, and desert foothills. Chalk Live-Forever grows a rosette of wide flat fleshy leaves that are pale green, which age to a pinkish papery texture. It produces one to many tall erect stems, which are similar in color. The epidermis of the plant is covered with a dense coating of chalky, powdery wax. It’s pale green or white nodding or erect inflorescences bear many pinkish flowers.

The Cahuilla and Kumeyaay Indians considered Dudleya pulverulenta a delicacy, the young plants were widely sought in spring and early summer, and the leaves were eaten raw; a decoction of the roots were used to treat asthma and the fleshy leaves were heated, peeled, and then bounded to treat and remove corns or calluses.

Elderberry is native to canyons, valleys west of Sierra Nevada from Oregon to Baja; its often seen along rivers and streams. This fast growing deciduous shrub or tree can reach heights of 8’ to 25’ feet, the flat top clusters blooms of the Elderberry are creamy yellow and are followed by blue berries. It likes full sun to partial shade; will take extreme drought after it get its roots established. Its bluish-black berries are excellent in jelly, pie, syrup and wine.

The Cahuilla Indians used Elderberry blossoms as a medicinal tea to treat fevers, upset stomachs, colds and flu. The juice of the berry was squeezed and used as a coloring dye for basket materials, the stem of the berry made a yellow-orange dye. Twigs of the Elderberry were used in making whistles. Pruning keeps the tree attractive.