Aloe mutabilis

A cliff-dwelling aloe from the northern Highveld of South Africa. Its stems hang down rock faces, ending in rosettes of blue-green, toothed leaves. In winter it carries dense heads of flowers that are red in bud and turn yellow as they open, which is where the name 'changeable' comes from. It is hardy, easy in a sunny, well-drained spot, and it tolerates dry, cold winters.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

It grows on steep rocky cliff faces and krantzes, often with its stems hanging down. The cliffs protect it from grazing and fire. Its best-known populations are on the quartzite ridges of the Magaliesberg and the Witwatersrand.

Its localities are on Highveld ridges at roughly 1,200-1,800 m. No elevation was measured from the records.

LimpopoGautengNorth West

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 3.0 licence, unmodified.