Tallest of the tree aloes, this specimen stands alone in drier landscapes where a striking multi-branching tree is called for. Rich corked bark gives the tree a distinctive texture and its foliage shares a similar growth habit to the pandanus.
Full sun
Dimensions: tree to 18m with a trunk up to 3m in width in the wild but far less, at around 4-6 m in cultivation.
Flowers: in autumn and winter, with a swollen appearance to the orange pink flower.
It resembles the Red Hot Poker.
Foliage: thick fleshy thorned green leaves arch from the terminals of the branches. Again a Pandanus comes to mind but its solid leaves of a richer green and quicker growth habit distinguish them.
Uses: Use with hard-edged modern architecture where a stark, severe form is required. Especially arresting against intensely coloured feature walls. Will tolerate the poor soil, low water and neglect typical of commercial settings – both in-ground or in large containers.