If you are not careful, the tiger tooth aloe will do some scratching.
- Tiger tooth aloe is an evergreen succulent plant native to Africa’s Kenya, and is one of the 500 plus species in the Aloe genus.
- Tiger tooth aloes are a dwarf aloe species, and grow up to 25 to 30 centimetres (9.8 to 11.8 inches) in height.
- Tiger tooth aloes have the scientific name Aloe juvenna and are commonly mistaken for the less common Aloe squarrosa, however their growth habits differ; the A. juvenna grows in a tight, compact, clump-like fashion, and the A squarrosa grows in a more loose way, with leaves that recurve (bend backwards).
- Tiger tooth aloes are from the sub family Asphodelaceae, which belongs to the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, a family of flowering monocot plants.
- Tiger tooth aloes grow best in sunny or lightly shady areas, are drought tolerant and do not like frost.
- Tiger tooth aloes have fleshy, spiky foliage that is light green in colour with pale coloured spots, and the leaves can have a red-brown tinge if the plant receives sun all day on a continuous basis.
- Tiger tooth aloe plants do not often flower, although when they do, they flower in summer or autumn.
- Tiger tooth aloe plants tend to spread and form a ground covering, and are suitable for growing in the garden and in pots.
- Tiger tooth aloe flowers grow on a long spike and are an orange-red colour.
- Tiger tooth aloe plants can be grown from seed, though they are usually grown from cuttings or by dividing the clumps.
Bibliography:
Aloe juvenna, 2014, Dave’s Garden, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/61412/#b
Aloe juvenna, 2014, Houseplants: Care and Propagation, http://houseplantz.net/aloe-juvenna/
Aloe juvenna – Tiger tooth aloes,n.d, San Marcos GROWERS, http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3588
