Aloe melanacantha  (South Africa)

This very attractive aloe with beautiful flowers is an aloe which seems to say "do not touch" .

Aloe melanacantha can stand a wide range of temperatures, from frost to very hot sun.
It is not difficult to grow if kept dry, which is easier said than done.
Keep in mind that it only seems to be suffering of drought, it will die of water.
Aloe melanacantha is a slow grower.  This aloe is also known as the black thorn aloe.
Aloes are succulent plants, also known as fatplants. It is easier to give the right conditions if this aloe is grown as a houseplant or as a potplant in the home, garden or greenhouse.
click on photos to enlarge
Aloe.melanacantha_Namaqualand.jpg (41540 bytes)

../aloes/Aloe.melanacantha.ra (66347 bytes)

Aloe.melanacantha_plant.jpg (65668 bytes)
photo left.  Aloe melanacantha in it's natural habitat.          photo right; An easier life in the garden
Aloe.melanacantha.drought.jpg (109233 bytes)    in summer