Rare Tiger Aloe Plant (Gonialoe variegata)

The Gonialoe variegata is a native of South Africa and Namibia. Also known as the Tiger Aloe or Partridge Breasted Aloe because of the stripes on it's leaves.This stemless succulent is a close relative of the Aloe Vera which almost everyone of us knows. It's leaves grows roughly up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and approximately 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) wide. They can also grow up to 1 foot (30 cm) tall.

This evergreen perenial succulent would produce a racemes of orange colored flowers and the whole thing would be approximately 8 inches (20 cm) to 12 inches (30 cm) in height.

Gonialoe variegata likes a lot of sun but not too much direct sunlight. They prefer being under a huge rock or tree to shelter themselves against direct afternoon sun. It doesnt tolerate cold weather very much either and hates wet conditions. If temperature hits below 41°F (5°C), it's best to give them a bit of protection against the elements of nature. Likewise when it's been raining for more than 2 days, I say get them to somewhere that's dry because their roots might rot.

For beginners, best start having them as indoor plants. Place them close to the window which gets most of the sun during the day. Soil to be used is your average cactus soil that you can buy from your nearest hardware or plant store. Remember to give them a good watering every time you notice that the soil is VERY DRY (with the right soil, this would happen in just 3 days). Like I said, they don't like wet conditions so the soil should drain faster than your average plant soil.

The Gonialoe variegata is a beautiful plant for indoors and outdoors. They can easily add character to any place you put them.