Aloe Rubroviolacea (Arabian Aloe): Growing And Care Guide

Growing and caring for Aloe rubroviolacea is not hard to do once the proper steps are followed. 

Learn everything about maintaining, managing, and fertilizing this plant to ensure it stays healthy, vibrant, and beautiful year after year.

About Aloe rubroviolacea

A graceful succulent, the Aloe rubroviolacea is a mid-sized rosette-forming Aloe native to Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Called the Arabian Aloe because of its habitat, the Aloe rubroviolacea is a striking addition to a garden border.

The Aloe leaves tend to undulate slightly, resulting in an elegant look. The leaves are fleshy and smooth, blushing purple in direct sunlight. Even without sunlight, the leaves are tinged red along the borders in the winter, complemented by the red teeth lining the edges. The base of the leaves is light green in color and transitions to red as they extend outward.

Botanical Name	Aloe rubroviolacea
Common Name	Arabian Aloe
Family	Asphodelaceae
Plant Type	Succulent
Origin	Yemen, Saudi Arabia
Maintenance	Low
Height	2-3 feet
Width	4-6 feet
Light	Full sun
Bloom season	Winter
Bloom color	Red
Water needs	Low
Soil	Well-Drained, Loamy, Sandy
Tolerant	Deer, Drought
Toxicity	non-toxic
Hardiness (USDA)	9-11

Aloe rubroviolacea Care

The Aloe rubroviolacea is easy to care for and can be grown indoors or outside in the garden. As long as a few of its basic needs are met, it won’t require much else from the gardener.

Light

Aloe rubroviolacea is a sun-loving plant. It prefers direct sunlight, so make sure that it gets enough light.

If you live in a northern climate where days are short and cloudy most of the time, provide artificial light for your Aloe and try placing it near a window with whatever natural light there is. A little bit of light is better than nothing at all.

Soil

The Arabian Aloe needs well-drained soil. If the potting soil is heavy and doesn’t drain well, add sand to it. This will help the roots of your Aloe breathe. You should also avoid planting it in beds recently treated with pesticides or other chemicals, as these can harm your plant.

Water

The Arabian Aloe needs water only when the soil is dry. It cannot tolerate standing water, so you should never let it stay moist after a watering session. If you do, the roots may develop root rot and die.

Temperature and Humidity

This Aloe loves heat and sunlight, but it doesn’t like humidity. If you live in a place where there is less than 40% relative humidity, then your plant will do well. If there is more than that, you should mist the leaves every few days to help them breathe better.

Aloe rubroviolacea thrives between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fertilizer

Arabian Aloe will not need any fertilizer if you water it properly. However, infrequent fertilizing can accelerate growth somewhat.

If you decide to fertilize your Aloe, use a balanced fertilizer at half strength once per season.

Pruning

The Aloe rubroviolacea can be pruned if you want to keep it small. It will only take a few snips here and there to make this plant look better. In general, you should not need to prune this plant since it grows slowly, but if you want a more compact shape than what nature provides, go ahead and trim away!

Potting and Repotting Arabian Aloe

Aloe rubroviolacea grows very slowly, so you should not need to repot this plant often. It is best to wait until the plant has outgrown its pot before transplanting it into a larger container.

Arabian Aloe does not need frequent repotting unless you feel the plant needs more nutrients or water than your soil provides.

Spring and summer are optimal times for repotting.

Prepare

How to Repot (Step-by-Step)

1. Remove the plant from the pot. Use a trowel or spade as needed.
2. Fill your new pot with fresh well-draining potting soil until it’s about halfway full.
3. Place your plant into its new container, spreading out its roots evenly before filling in around them with more soil mix until about halfway full (don’t bury the stem).
4. Water the plant thoroughly until water flows freely from the bottom of the pot. Place your new plant in a sunny location and resume your regular care routine.

Propagating Aloe rubroviolacea by Seeds (Step-by-Step)

Seeds are a viable way of propagation the Arabian Aloe. But they are harder to develop into mature plants and require much effort from the gardener.

1. Remove the seeds from the ripe fruit. Let this sit for 24 hours before planting.
2. Clean and sterilize your pot, then fill it with fresh potting soil.
3. Sow a few seeds in the center of your pot, ensuring they are not touching each other.
4. Water lightly and place the pot in a warm and sunny location.
5. Cover the pot with plastic wrap to trap humidity.
6. Allow the seeds a few weeks to germinate.

Propagating Aloe rubroviolacea by Offsets (Step-by-Step)

Aloe rubroviolacea is very easy to propagate by offsets. You can easily cut off an offset from a mature plant and root it in the soil. Here’s what you do.

1. Remove the offset from the parent Aloe rubroviolacea plant by gently tugging on it with your hand.
2. Wash the offset under running water to remove any dust, then store it in a dry location for a day or two to allow the cut end to heal.
3. Plant the offset in a container filled with well-draining potting soil.
4. Place the container (pot) in a warm and sunny location.
5. Water lightly, but do not overwater, as this can cause rotting and death of your new offsets.

Blooms

In winter, flowers appear atop tall inflorescences. The flowers are a beautiful red and can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) long. These flowers are pollinated by bees and hummingbirds, which are attracted by the bright colors.

Toxicity

Aloe rubroviolacea is non-toxic. However, it should not be taken orally. Non-toxic does not equate to edible. Also, keep away from overly curious pets and children.

NOTE: This page is not intended as a substitute for veterinary advice. The toxicity of an ingested substance varies depending on the amount ingested, the animal’s weight, and its sensitivity to specific allergens. Contact your veterinarian or local animal poison control center immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a toxic substance.

Common Pests

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are tiny, sap-sucking insects that cluster on the underside of leaves and feed on plant sap. They can cause the succulent leaves to turn yellow or brown and fall off. To prevent mealybugs from infesting your garden, regularly inspect new plants and existing ones for signs of infestation.

Scale Insects

Scale insects are small, immobile insects that suck sap from the leaves of plants. They are often found on the stems or undersides of leaves and look like small bumps or brownish-white brittle material. Use mild-strength insecticides to deal with them.

Snails

Snails are small mollusks that feed on plants and can cause damage to leaves by chewing holes in them. Snails also secrete a mucus trail that attracts other pests such as slugs, ants, and flies.

Common Problems

FAQ