Plant Finder

Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide

Other Names:  Twilight Zone Aloe

Description:

This Aloe and Gasteria hybrid features toothed and speckled rosettes of dark green leaves, that may flush copper at the tips in extreme weather; produces erect racemes of orange flowers at varying times; a wonderful garden or container accent

Ornamental Features

Twilight Zone Gasteraloe's attractive succulent sword-like leaves remain dark green in color with distinctive white spots and tinges of coppery-bronze throughout the year on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. It features dainty racemes of orange tubular flowers rising above the foliage from late winter to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

Twilight Zone Gasteraloe is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Twilight Zone Gasteraloe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Twilight Zone Gasteraloe will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 16 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Twilight Zone Gasteraloe is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.