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. Their natural adaptation to harsh and often arid climates makes aloes outstanding subjects for the water-wise garden. Aloe is a genus in the Asphodeloideae family containing about 600 species of flowering succulent plants. Aloes are sometimes confused with Agaves. Contrarily to Agaves, Aloe leaves contain a gel like sap. Another difference is that Aloes don’t die after blooming as most Agaves do.

Aloe krapohliana commonly known as Karoo Aloe and Krapohl’s Aloe is a South African endemic species found in Namaqualand, from Vanrhynsdorp to the Orange River. It forms a small stemless aloe 30-35 cm high with blue-green leaves and large flowers. This succulent aloe makes offshoots forming a small group. The raceme of Aloe krapohliana is large in relation to this small aloe plant, with bright orange/ red flowers in winter. The leaves of Aloe krapohliana tapers off to nearly a circular shape at the tips. This aloe grows in the winter rainfall area. Summers are hot and arid and the rainfall in winter is very low. Aloe krapohliana can withstand frost but should be left to go completely dry between watering. Never water them on a hot day. The rainfall will be enough in any area. Plant them with plenty stones for drainage in a basic soil.