Aloe cooperi - Cooper's Aloe Seeds - Indigenous South African Succulent - NEW

Aloe comptonii Seeds

Cooper's Aloe

Aloe cooperi is a South African grass aloe; so classified because of its natural habitat, the South African grasslands. It was discovered by Burchell in his early travels in South Africa and was rediscovered by Thomas Cooper, after whom it was named. Its common name, Cooper's Aloe was also directly derived from his surname. It occurs in moist habitats and in dry rocky areas, mainly in Natal, Swaziland and Mpumalanga. Aloe cooperi grows singly or in small groups from offshoots at ground level. Plants may be stemless or short stemmed up to 15cm high. The leaves are often yellowish green with the upper surface usually unspotted, though occasionally they have a few white spots lower down. The inflorescence is simple and bold. The flowers of Aloe cooperi vary in colour from greenish-cream to apricot and salmon pink. Flowering occurs from December near the coast and January or February inland. Young shoots and flowers are cooked and eaten as vegetables by the Zulu people. The Zulu people also believe that the smoke from burning leaves of Aloe cooperi in the cattle kraal will protect the cattle from the ill effects of eating improper food. Cooper's aloe also attracts nectar feeding birds such as sunbirds and makes a striking addition to a flower bed.