Yesterday I was able to visit the local Algarve Regional Agricultural Department near Faro and they have some interesting plantings. Looking very good at the moment are the aloes in the succulent garden.  This garden is on well drained sandy soil so the recent heavy rains have not caused the problems we are experiencing in other parts of the Algarve with soil erosion, flooding and rotting.

Aloes are one of the most distinctive African plant families – 446 species in all  and,  surprisingly, are one of the Asphodelaceae.  They occur in (but are not confined to) many of the worlds most arid regions but are especially associated with South Africa and the Arabian peninsula. Some aloes have been used for medicinal purposes, Aloe vera being the most well known, but there are also recorded uses as purgatives, shampoos, cosmetics etc. There are 200 active ingredients including essential amino-acids and 12 vitamins.

They are excellent garden plants being long lived, drought tolerant once established, and winter flowering in a range of reds, yellows and orange colours. Flower spikes vary from short and wide to thin elegant spikes. A little known member of the Aloe family is the Baobab tree, Adansonia digitata.  A book I have found useful is by Gideon F Smith and Braam van Wyk  ‘Aloes in South Africa‘  Published 2008 ISBN 978-1-77007-462-0