Aloe juncea

Aloe juncea is not a South African plant although it is an attractive exotic, increasingly seen in gardens and containers here. The plant branches from the base to form several stems covered in short, thick and broad leaves, triangular in shape. The description of ground cover is apt insofar as the plant is low-growing, reaching about 15 cm in height with taller branches leaning over rather than remaining erect.

The fresh green leaves are covered in scattered white spots and faint longitudinal lines. Small beige-brown spines grow on the leaf margins only. The pinkish perianths are quite long when they open and turn creamy white in colour (www.collectorscorner.com.au).