Aloe comptonii is an erect or semi-erect growing Aloe that prefers to grow on rocky utcroppings, on mountain slopes and hill sides. In nature, Aloe comptonii avoids the lower lying colder plains that are more susceptible to frost, although the plants are often found growing quite happily in lower lying gardens.
The flower colour varies from a dull red to a very attractive scarlet-red. Aloe comptonii is found from about Montaque in the west, right through the semi-desert Little Karoo, to Uniondale in the East. While young plants grow erect, older plants tend to develop a stem that creeps on the ground.
Aloe comptonii is quite easy to cultivate if conditions are similar to those of its natural environment. The plants do not like frost. This Aloe is well able to withstand the desert-like conditions of the Little Karoo. In gardens however, the plants do not seem to mind considerably larger amounts of water, as long as the plants are on a raised bed with good drainage.
In its natural habitat Aloe comptonii flowers from August to January. Some plants were found near Calitzdorp that had already set seed in October, while plants from south of Oudtshoorn, only some 50 km to the east, had not even started flowering yet.
Aloe comptonii merges into Aloe mitriformis at its western distribution range.
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Aloe comptonii in habitat.
The flower colour varies from a dull red to a very attractive scarlet-red. Aloe comptonii is found from about Montaque in the west, right through the semi-desert Little Karoo, to Uniondale in the East. While young plants grow erect, older plants tend to develop a stem that creeps on the ground.
Aloe comptonii is quite easy to cultivate if conditions are similar to those of its natural environment. The plants do not like frost. This Aloe is well able to withstand the desert-like conditions of the Little Karoo. In gardens however, the plants do not seem to mind considerably larger amounts of water, as long as the plants are on a raised bed with good drainage.
In its natural habitat Aloe comptonii flowers from August to January. Some plants were found near Calitzdorp that had already set seed in October, while plants from south of Oudtshoorn, only some 50 km to the east, had not even started flowering yet.
Aloe comptonii merges into Aloe mitriformis at its western distribution range.
Aloe comptonii in habitat.The following two photographs were taken in Cogmanskloof between Ashton and Montaqu.
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