Aloe retrospiciens

A large, mostly solitary aloe from the dry hills of north-western Somalia (Somaliland) and eastern Ethiopia, reaching about 1.2 m, sometimes branching from the base, with orange tubular flowers. It grows on limestone and schist slopes in open Acacia and Grewia bushland at around 800–1100 m. Give it full sun, a very free-draining mineral mix, heat and a dry, bright winter. It is IUCN Vulnerable and CITES Appendix II.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets 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 in the ground

Where it grows wild

Herbarium labels describe hills of limestone and schist in lower tree-Acacia open woodland north of Boroma, and a north-west-facing limestone scarp slope with sparse Grewia and Acacia senegal north-east of Dire Dawa. The vernacular Somali name is recorded as 'Daar Burug'.

Recorded at about 820–1100 m (Darburruk on the Hargeisa–Berbera road, north of Boroma, and near Dire Dawa).

SomaliaEthiopia

🔒 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.