About Aloe striata Haw.
Commonly known as coral aloe, Aloe striata Haw. gets its specific epithet 'striata', which means 'stripes', from the long, sometimes very faint stripes visible on its blue-green leaves. Unlike many aloe species, its leaves do not have teeth, and have a smooth pink margin. Because their species names are similar, Aloe striata is often confused in botanical writing with Aloiampelos striatula, previously classified as Aloe striatula and commonly called hardy aloe. This is a completely distinct plant native to the highlands of the Eastern Cape. This species has a relatively wide distribution across the southern parts of the Cape Floristic Region, in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province and Western Cape Province. It grows on rocky slopes in both coastal and karoo areas. Aloe striata is widely cultivated as a popular ornamental plant. It is used in succulent gardens, drought-tolerant gardens, and grown in container plantings. A hybrid between Aloe striata and Aloe maculata, Aloe striata x maculata (also known by the synonym Aloe saponaria), is a popular garden plant. Aloe striata ssp. karasbergensis, commonly called Karasburg Coral Aloe, is also grown as an ornamental plant.
