Aloe bakeri aka Baker Aloe

Aloe bakeri, or Baker aloe, is a small evergreen succulent from Madagascar. It belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. In the wild, it grows in humid or partly humid places. It roots in thin soil and cracks on rocky slopes. Its range extends from sea level to about 1,640 feet [500 metres]. The name honours John Gilbert Baker, a British botanist at Kew.

The plant branches and sends out shoots from its base. These slowly build a low mat of leaf rosettes. LLIFLE gives a height of 0.3–0.7 feet [0.1–0.2 metres]. It gives a spread of about 1.3 feet [0.4 metres]. The RHS lists an upper garden size of 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] in both directions. A mature clump can hold 100 or more shoots. Slim stems carry narrow leaves with pointed tips and small white teeth. Leaves range from dark green to reddish brown. Pale spots vary in number, with more beneath each leaf.

Summer brings loose racemes of nodding, tube-shaped flowers. Flower stalks reach about 0.8–1 foot [0.25–0.3 metres] long. Each raceme holds around eight to ten blooms. Their bases range from orange to scarlet or apricot. The mouths turn orange or yellow, with green tips. Small, oval capsules form the fruit. The leaves and bright flowers give this small plant year-round interest.

Grow it in full sun, with light shade in summer if needed. Use a pot with free-draining cactus compost. Loam-based compost with added grit also suits it. The RHS accepts acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. Water moderately while it grows, then very little during winter rest. LLIFLE identifies spring and autumn as its main growth periods. Keep the roots fairly dry, since excess water can cause rot. Feed monthly from May through August with a general liquid fertiliser.

This frost-tender aloe suits a bright room, greenhouse or conservatory. It can spend summer outdoors in a sheltered spot. Bring it under cover for winter and provide warmth. The RHS rates it H1B; LLIFLE suggests winter temperatures around 5–10°C. It needs no pruning. Grow new plants from offsets or seed sown with heat. Scale insects and mealybugs may attack it, though the RHS reports few disease problems. Keep it away from children and pets that may chew it. The RHS warns that eating it can harm people, dogs, cats and rabbits. Wear gloves and protective gear when handling it.