Overview

A medium-sized, mostly stemless plant. Aloe elegans grows 18-24 inches tall, featuring open rosettes of thick, upright, gray-green lance-shaped leaves with reddish-tinged edges when plants are exposed to drought. Late winter to early spring brings a few (2-4) branched inflorescence, bearing bright yellow conical flower heads that rise above leaf tips. This species enjoys full sun to light shade and soil that drains well, needing infrequent irrigation. Ethiopian native where it is very common on open slopes at moderately high elevations.