LANDSCAPING WITH ALOES: UNSUNG HEROES

As I face 90% of my plants under attack from drought this year, and another 9% recovering from an agave weevil outbreak (that is now over, thank God), the 1% left are ALOES and a few Opuntias oblivious to the conditions.
I don't have a large ALOE collection like some in frost free areas of South Africa, California, and Australia.  I find tree aloes particularly fascinating, but they don't grow here in Houston. What I do have are aloes suited for the Texas Gulf Coastal regions that are tough and carefree. I take some into the greenhouse during winter since I've lost many to our occasional severe freezes.

This is Aloe transvaalensis, or Aloe zebrina. The babies start off flat to the ground, then larger plants start to curl in this snake charmer shape. You MUST take this one in during a freeze.

This is my Aloe saponaria bed. This is the easiest aloe to grow and can take down to 25 degrees and return to full size. They bloom every year.

This is Aloe striata. It's a beautiful shade of sea foam green.

Aloe ciliaris with variegated Yucca. This aloe also is root hardy in a frost. It likes eastern sun with afternoon shade. It is also known as climbing aloe and it will artistically snake through other vegetation on its way to sunshine.

These short, plump aloes cling to the ground almost like Lithops. They are from a friend and all she would say is that people in Mexico grow them. It is almost as hardy as Aloe saponaria. Notice that one has turned brown. They do this during too much sun or during cold, dry winters.

This looks like Aloe saponaria, but it's not. It's a different species that blooms at a different time of year. It is shinier and has more striations in the leaves. It also lacks that classic recurved foliage of saponaria. I got it from Yucca Do nursery in Giddings, Texas. It is also frost tolerant to 25 degrees.

This is probably Aloe socotrina, but it came without a label. I love the teeth on this one.

This little aloe turns purple brown during winter. I don't know its name.

This is the front rock bed by the drive. Aloes really look good with the mellow, soft-leaved Agaves such as Agave celsii and Agave desmettiana (not shown).  Squid agave is in the background.

Did you know there are variegated aloes? It's rare and I only have this one to show you.

Thanks for stopping by Foliage Follow-up. Please visit our host, Pam at Digging to see more great foliage.  http://www.penick.net/digging

David/ :-)

FOLIAGE FOLLOW-UP FOR AUGUST 2010

Welcome to Foliage Followup; a celebration of cool greenery during a very hot month. Pam at Digging is the mastermind and master gardener behind this group. Thanks and hang on for some great garden pics from this very creative group! Go to http://www.penick.net/digging/  to see the participants. :-)
It's no secret ~ I'm a foliage plant nut and an avid collector of both spiky and lush looking tropical plants.
FROM THE SPIKY COLLECTION:

Agave lophantha (small leaf version)

Aloe transvaalensis (Transvaal Zebra Aloe)

This lovely Sanseveria hasn't notice that it's been 97 for the past 10 days. Bulletproof!

An artsy view of a Sago Palm frond that's been through a lot in its short life.

Part of our Agave collection. The large A. lophantha on the left is up front near the street as a dog deterrent.

I'll probably move it next year. It scores a perfect 10 on the Spikometer. I cut the tips off for safety.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR PLANTS FROM THE LUSH COLLECTION

Isn't this the coolest plant? This is Cotyledon orbiculata and it almost died in the last freeze. I left it outside in 21 degree weather!

I'm bringing it in this winter.

These are Kaempferia pulchra and Kaempferia elegans varieties from Thailand.

This is the only group of plants I sprinkle with water daily. They are in the cooler part of the yard and worth the extra trouble.

This is a Chinese Fan Palm. They are the heart of the back garden.

Alocasia machrorrhizia is unbelievably drought tolerant for having such a big leaf.

I got these from Castroville, Texas.

And finally this silvery plant is called Cornukaempferia aurantiflora.

I have only 2 or 3 of them.

Thanks for stopping by Tropical Texana in Houston, Texas.