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 globuligemma commonly known as Beady Aloe or Knoppiesaalwyn is an attractive, hardy, drought-resistant stemless aloe that sometimes forms creeping stems. This aloe has rather unusual bluish leaves with white prickly margins. The upright leaves are without spots or lines and curve outwards in the upper third. The flower stem is horizontally branched and the flowers are carried upturned, much like Aloe marlothii. Distinctive red globular flower buds turn a dull pinkish-white. Aloe globuligemma flowers in late winter and is a beautiful aloe for semi-shade to full sun areas and makes an exceptional form plant reaching up to 1 meter in diameter. The round flowers of this aloe, arranged from large to small, resemble beads on a necklace and attracts birds to the garden.