Aloe Flowers A-Z Part 4: Species S through Z

This fourth installment in our alphabetical aloe flower series showcases species from Aloe sabaea through Aloe zebrina. Aloes are prized landscape succulents, but their spectacular, often winter-blooming flowers rival any ornamental plant. Photographed primarily at Huntington Botanical Gardens in Southern California.

Highlights from S-Z

Aloe sabaea (Yemen/Saudi Arabia) – Rare non-African tree aloe with highly branched inflorescences and open conical racemes in yellow, orange, or red.

Aloe schelpei (Ethiopia) – Head-shaped racemes shifting from deep red (buds) to pale orange (open flowers).

Aloe schomeri (Madagascar) – Unique horizontal yellow flowers on moderately dense racemes.

Aloe scorpioides (Central Africa) – Resembles A. arborescens inflorescences.

Aloe secundiflora – Popular southwestern landscape plant with colorful foliage and multiple bloom cycles yearly.

Aloe sinkatana (North Africa) – Distinctive disc-shaped yellow racemes; valuable in hybridization.

Aloe 'Sophie' (hybrid) – Large spotted aloe blooming year-round with brilliant yellow flowers.

Aloe speciosa (Tilt-head Aloe) – Spectacular huge cones of red, white, and orange; flowers age from pink-orange to white with green stripes, revealing deep red stamens. Bee magnet.

Aloe spicata – Multiple branching inflorescences with 90% coverage of compact cylindrical yellow/orange racemes showing multiple colors.

Aloe striata – Common, easy, hardy species with bright red-orange winter flowers.

Aloe striatula – Climbing/vining aloe with uniquely flattened, compact bright yellow racemes.

Aloe succotrina – Neat, attractive species with red winter flowers.

Aloe suffulta (Central Africa) – Uniquely long, weak, draping inflorescences with widely spaced flowers.

Aloe suprafoliata – Thick peduncles topped with bright red racemes; great landscape plant.

Aloe suzannae – Massive columns (6'+) with thousands of flowers; blooms rarely (1-2×/decade) but flowers persist a month.

Aloe swynnertonii – 'Flying-saucer' shaped pink and yellow racemes; identifiable only in winter.

Aloe taurii (hybrid) – Amazingly multicolored flowers: red, pink, orange, yellow, green simultaneously.

Aloe tenuior – Climbing aloe with open pale to bright yellow racemes (some forms red/orange).

Aloe thraskii – Tree aloe with classic arched leaves and striking orange corn-cob racemes.

Aloe tomentosa – Only aloe with white fuzzy flowers (thin fuzz layer); late summer/fall bloomer.

Aloe ukambensis – Colorful red-purple stressed foliage plus scarlet flowers.

Aloe vanbellenii – Prolific winter bloomer with tall, skinny yellow-orange inflorescences.

Aloe vaombe (Madagascar) – Huge red Christmas blooms; fast-growing tree aloe flowering from seed in 7 years.

Aloe variegata – Common dwarf aloe (partridge breast) with modest flowers.

Aloe virens – Easy landscape species with mass summer flowering (not winter).

Aloe vera – Ubiquitous medicinal species; blooms year-round outdoors (yellow typical, sometimes red); rarely flowers indoors.

Aloe vryheidensis (hybrid) – A. spicata-like form with maroon and white flowers.

Aloe wilsonii × elgonica – Hybrid colony creating massive red floral display visible from distance.

Aloe zebrina – Spotted South African species with pale pink fall flowers (rare yellow form exists).

Part 5 will feature close-ups and unique shots not covered in this series. Hundreds more aloes exist in cultivation—this pictorial introduction highlights the most spectacular and commonly encountered.