The spiral aloe, Aloe polyphylla, is thriving in this south-facing border in front of the Glasshouses.
A native of the mountains of Lesotho, South Africa, Aloe polyphylla grows at altitudes between 2000 and 2500m. Here it is exposed to snow and temperatures below freezing, and much of the time is shrouded in mountain mists. It is an endangered species, at risk from climate change and also illegal collecting. It is often referred to as the gem of the Drakensberg. The toothed, succulent leaves radiate out from a basal rosette to create a spiralling fractal. The leaves can radiate in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Grown very much for its foliage rather than for its flowers, it produces pink-orange, branched inflorescences, if grown in a hot, sheltered position.