Aloes on the UC Davis campus—mid-December progress report

In my last post, I reported on the flowering progress of my own aloes. This morning I checked on the aloes on the University of California Davis campus. Unfortunately, when I tried to take my first photo, I realized the battery in my DSLR was dead. Not wanting to rush back home, I ended up using my phone camera. The photos aren't as good as they would have been on my regular camera, but they give you an idea of where the UCD aloes are at in terms of flowering.

Yellow-flowering Aloe arborescens outside the Botanical Conservancy greenhouses on Kleiber Hall Drive


I actually like the yellow-flowering form better than the common red form


Not an aloe, obviously, but just starting to flower: Euphorbia atropurpurea

Look closely: There's an inflorescence emerging on the top of this old Aloe ferox 

Bonus photo: very pretty Aloe parryi at the base of the Aloe ferox above

Wider shot of the aloes in front of the Botanical Conservatory. Look at the Aloe littoralis on the left.

Aloe littoralis flower stalk

The encephalartos in the cycad garden on the side and in front of Storer Hall are looking good

No flowers yet on these Aloe striata × maculata, but lots of pine needles

Aloe ferox and Encephalartos horridus in front of Storer Hall

Fallen giant in front of Storer Hall. This massive Aloe marlothii hybrid toppled over in January 2017 because the ground was so soggy. It's been laying there, unrooted, ever since then. But that hasn't stopped it from producing flowers. If you needed proof of how tough aloes are, this is it!

Red-flowering Aloe arborescens

Aloe suprafoliata in the alley between the Sciences Lab Building and Haring Hall 

Aloe africana

The flower stalks on the Aloe ferox and Aloe marlothii next to the Sciences Lab Building along Hutchison Drive are just beginning to ermerge. These aloes are always the last to come into flower.

Late February or early March are usually a good time to visit (see 2016 and 2017). I suggest you come on Saturday or Sunday when parking is free. I typically park next to the Botanical Conservatory on Kleiber Hall Drive. All the aloes you saw above are just a few minutes away.


Comments

  1. I love the yellow flowered Aloes too, along with the red ones. The Black stems on the A. littoralis is beautiful too...love it!

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  2. While the Aloes are indeed impressive, the photo of Euphorbia atropurpurea had me gaping. I tried growing a plant I got from Annie's but it died (the raccoons didn't help me there) but now I think I'll have to try it again.

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  3. If you didn't have the phone or its battery went flat too... sketches? :)
    I always look forward to aloe bloom posts in the winter, but it's also the time that I wish most that I could have these in the ground here. Love them!

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  4. Ergh! I am getting tired of commenting at night on my iPad and having my comments disappear! I think I expressed surprise that the fallen Aloe marlothii hadn't been up-righted. Why do you think they haven't taken care of it? Oh and Euphorbia atropurpurea. I have one from Annie's that I planted in the ground this spring. I really hope it makes it through our winter (20's in the forecast for next week) I would love to see it bloom.

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    Replies
    1. My iPad was doing that to me too, it seems to be working again for me though.

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