Plant Primer: Tiger tooth aloe a succulent with surprisingly sharp teeth
Tiger tooth aloe
Light: bright light
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 24 inches
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9
Origin: Kenya
The tiger tooth aloe (Aloe juvenna) is a deceiving charmer. This clump succulent has an unusual growth habit. The leaves grow in stacked layers, with three leaves per layer.
The stem of leaves grows upward until it becomes too heavy and falls over while the uppermost rosettes still aim toward the sun. The triangular leaves are bright-green with speckles of light green and white. Beware of the sharp teeth on the leaf edges!
A spike of tubular orange-red flowers grows in mid- to late summer. Tiger tooth aloe is a prolific producer of pups or suckers; one rosette can fill a pot in a short time. The plant thrives in very well-draining soil.
See the tiger tooth aloe in the Desert biome at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
— Barbara Arnold
Franklin Park Conservatory
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Plant Primer: the tiger tooth aloe is a prolific producer
