About Aloe brevifolia Mill.
Aloe brevifolia, commonly known as the short-leaved aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is a tiny, compact, blue-green evergreen succulent perennial native to the Western Cape, South Africa. It is listed as Endangered on SANBI's Red List, and is threatened in its natural habitat, yet it is also widely popular as an ornamental plant grown in rock gardens and xeriscapes worldwide. In the wild, this especially small, diminutive species is entirely confined to dry clay soil in Rûens Shale Renosterveld, a critically endangered and rapidly disappearing vegetation type in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Small wild populations typically grow on inaccessible rocky slopes and cliffs, particularly near the coast; it is thought that these populations are only relics of a much wider historical distribution. Several subspecies exist, and these are now separated from one another by farmland and other forms of development. This dwarf aloe is growing in popularity as an ornamental plant for pots and rockeries. For cultivation, it should be planted in a reasonably sunny location, in well-drained soil. It needs only moderate watering and should not be kept constantly damp. Growers should note that this species is adapted to the Mediterranean climate of the Western Cape, which has a winter rainfall pattern. It can be propagated easily by removing and replanting branching suckers. Because it requires winter heat, it is grown under glass or as a houseplant in temperate regions. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
