I have had this Aloinopsis aliodes long enough that it dates back to when I was negligent of keeping good records and dates. So I don’t know how old it really is, but if it goes back far enough that I didn’t write down the date of purchase, well, it must be pretty old. And it is blooming right now and looks pretty, so it’s deserving of a little spotlight.
Many varieties of aloinopsis are native to various regions in South Africa which are arid areas with winter rainfall. Which means that this plant is a winter grower and likes to be watered in the winter and stay drier in other times of the year. They are supposed to be cold-hardy, and I put this one in the ground for a while. I even wrote about it then, and it did bloom and survive, but it just wasn’t happy. I feared for its long-term survival, so last year i dug it up and repotted it. Much happier. Well, at least I am much happier with it in a pot!
It also is a night bloomer, or at least an evening bloomer. The flowers open toward the end of the day and tend to be closed by morning. But they do open for more than one day. I noticed when I googled this plant that one website said it had pink flowers. Well, this one obviously has yellow flowers, so perhaps my label is wrong as to the variety, but it is an aloinopsis, so for right now, it will be A. aloides; that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
So, if you see one to add to your collection, I highly recommend it. It’s a neat little plant.
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