Dear All, I just got this little aloe (?) plant at a yard sale. I think it is aloe because the leaves are meaty and because it has spines along the leaves. I am however quite puzzled by its purple (and maybe even orange-ish purple) color. Searching the web for 'purple aloe' did not really yield a positive species ID. Hence the question: are colored varieties common? Or is it something that's supposed to be green and is in distress? (It was in a pretty bad shape when I got it -- one leaf seems to be going moldy...). Any idea on what the species is? Thanks a lot!
From what I found.. Aloes come in different colors. here are some that you might find interesting and not just your typical green plant! From what it looks like, your aloe looks okay to me. But i can't really judge untill i know what kind it is! But from what i see looks fine. I came to the conclusion because of the tips of your aloe. If it were to be brown/off color then my instincts tell me that it would be dry and dead at the tips. I hope someone can answer this.. it would be very interesting to know more about different kinds of aloes out there. Image Credits: http://cactusjungle.com/ & www.succulents.co.za
Your plant looks like it could be a Haworthia or in intergeneric cross between Haworthia & Aloe. When it flowers, you can get a better ID on it. I find many of my Aloe & Haworthia color up in the sun or if given less water (my SOS regime, Sink Or Swim). :)
I have a number of different aloes, and they do tend to redden in full sun with less water. My A. arborescens are a prime example of this. My knee-jerk reaction to that one, though, is Haworthia. Although Rosemarie is right - it might be a cross, and flowers will tell you. Edit - also THANK YOU CJJulian - It's been bugging me for about a year but from your photos my NOID aloe is A. saponaria!
Thank you all -- and thanks for the pictures! I'll wait and see. One last question -- I have a bunch of cacti and this aloe/haworthia and echeverias all in one pot, and I am planning to give them all the same winter rest (will try to get cacti to flower). Will this work or do they all want different conditions in winter? I almost never got my cacti to flower, and I really want to try next year.
