A small aloe with thick, triangular leaves stacked in neat rows and banded with white, like the feathers of the bird it is named for. It stays about a foot tall, which makes it a fine choice for pots, narrow beds and close-up spots in part shade.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub, groundcover and succulent schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It needs excellent drainage, in the ground or in a pot. Water it through the warm season and keep it on the dry side in winter; soggy soil is far more dangerous to it than drought.
Pruning
Remove old flower stalks after bloom. Little else is needed beyond pulling any dried lower leaves.
Heat/sunburn
In the Phoenix Valley it wants shade from the afternoon sun. Filtered light under a tree canopy or an east-facing spot works well.
Pests
Rabbits and packrats sometimes nibble plants in the ground. Pots kept up off the ground are easier to protect.
How our designers use it
Containers
Its tidy size and bold pattern make it a natural for decorative pots on a shaded patio or entry.
Small beds and narrow spaces
It fits along walks, in side yards and in tight planters where larger aloes would crowd the path.
Succulent groupings
Our designers mix it with other small aloes and low cactus for a collection with varied texture and pattern.
Good to know
Around the pool
It has no spines and drops very little, so it works well in shaded planters near the pool. The flowers draw hummingbirds and bees from late winter into spring.
