About Aloe distans Haw.
Aloe distans Haw. (Aloe perfoliata), commonly called rubble aloe or mitre aloe, is a hardy creeping aloe species. It is indigenous to the Western Cape, South Africa, and also grows in some adjacent areas of the Northern and Eastern Cape. In this region, it typically grows in mountainous rocky Fynbos, and can spread into neighboring Karoo and Albany Thicket vegetation. It is usually found growing in groups among rubble and rocky outcrops, which gives it the Afrikaans name "Puin Aalwyn", meaning "Rubble Aloe". It grows in clay or sandy soil. These resilient plants generally prefer flat, rocky places, but they can also be seen growing on vertical cliff faces. This is a very tough and compact aloe species that can be cultivated on embankments, rocky slopes, and walls. It easily survives both very hot summers and winter snow. These aloes are also used in arid gardens, because they flower in the summer unlike most aloe species. They require full sun to produce maximum flowering. This species can be easily propagated from stem cuttings: cuttings are dried for one or two days, then planted in sand.
