Mitre Aloe (Aloe perfoliata): The Gold-Tooth Aloe with Clasping Leaves

Mitre Aloe, also called Gold-Tooth Aloe or Aloe Mitre, is a distinctive species known for its leaves that wrap around the stem, creating a mitre-like appearance. Native to the Western Cape of South Africa, Aloe perfoliata (perfoliata means "through the leaf") forms dense clusters of rosettes on short stems.

Identification

The leaves are triangular, blue-green, and armed with prominent, golden-yellow teeth along the margins and often on the keel. They are distinctly clasping at the base, encircling the stem. In summer, it produces dense, conical racemes of tubular, scarlet to orange flowers. The plant spreads by offsets, forming substantial colonies over time.

Cultivation

This aloe prefers full sun and well-drained, rocky soil. It is drought-tolerant and can withstand light frost once established. It works well in rock gardens, retaining walls, and containers. The numerous synonyms (e.g., Aloe albispina, A. nobilis) reflect its long history in cultivation and variable forms.