Aloe maculata, commonly called the Soap Aloe, Bontaalwyn, or Lekhala, is extremely common in South Africa and has a wide distribution from the Cape Peninsula along the Western Cape south coast to the Eastern Cape. Although the plant usually favours milder coastal climates it is also found further inland in the northern parts of the Eastern Cape, the eastern Free State, and the highlands of Lesotho. In KwaZulu-Natal its range extends along the Drakensberg foothills and through the Midlands northwards to southern Mpumalanga, and extending to the Inyanga District in Zimbabwe.
The soap aloe forms colonies of plants and can be found growing in highly variable habitats, from coastal regions to higher inland elevations. It is very common in grasslands, but is also often found in rocky outcrops and thicket vegetation.
Because this aloe hybridizes easily with other similar aloes, both in the wild and in gardens, it is a very variable species, and sometimes difficult to identify. The attractive mottled leaves vary considerably in length and shape, but are broad, triangular, and recurved towards the dried, twisted tips. They also range in colour from red to green, but always have distinctive H-shaped spots, and sharp brown teeth.
A hybrid between Aloe maculata and Aloe striata is very popular in the gardening trade and is used for water-wise landscaping worldwide. Click here to see Google images of this hybrid.
The soap aloe is a small stemless aloe, about 50cm tall, but the flowers are borne on top of a multi-branched stalk up to 1m tall, and it spreads up to 1m or more via suckers. The flowers are also variable in colour, ranging from bright red to orange and yellow, but they are always bunched in a distinctively flat-topped raceme, which distinguishes this aloe from most other spotted aloes occurring in the same area. Flowering varies, depending on the climate where it is growing, and the various forms may flower in summer (January), mid-winter (May - July), or spring (August - September). The flowers of aloes are a rich source of nectar and will attract sunbirds and many other pollinators.
Aloe maculata Picture courtesy Bernard DUPONT from flickrUses:
The gel from the leaves is said to be used by people of various cultures as a substitute for soap, hence its name common name Soap Aloe.
The plant gel is also traditionally used as a remedy for its medicinal properties and is commonly used for skin complains, inflammation, respiratory ailments, the muscular-skeletal system, poisoning, circulation, and endocrine system diseases.
In the Garden:
The soap aloe, although it remains low, is attractive in the garden year-round as its spotted leaves are attractive even when the plants are not in flower, and when in bloom, it puts on a show for several weeks, and in areas where it flowers in winter, it adds a fiery glow to an otherwise drab garden.
Aloe maculata makes an interesting focal point in the garden, and is a great addition to the xeriscape or water-wise garden. It is relatively maintenance-free, and because it spreads via suckers, it is a good choice as a groundcover, and is well suited to rock or pebble gardens, and is ideal to retain the soil on sloping banks.
This aloe is a good candidate for a green roof plant as it is hardy and robust, providing protection for other roof dwellers. However, the roots could possibly pose a problem if inadequate protection is taken to prevent root penetration into the waterproof layer.
It is also an excellent fire-retardant succulent for areas prone to wild fires.
The nectar rich flowers and pollen attracts pollinators like birds, bees, butterflies and other insects, but it’s our beautiful sunbirds that seek out the plants which inspires most gardeners to plant this and other aloes.
Click here to see Google images of Sunbirds of South Africa
Aloe maculata Picture courtesy K M from flickrCultivation/Propagation:
The wide distribution of Aloe maculata throughout South Africa indicates that it can tolerate a variety of soil types and moisture regimes, and once it is established, it will require little attention.
The soap aloe grows relatively fast and is very easy to grow in full sun or part shade. Although it is very hardy, the plants are damaged by temperatures which continually drop below 0°C, but the plants will recover quickly. In very cold regions plant into pots which can be moved in winter, or choose a warm protected spot in the garden and cover the plants in winter.
The soap aloe will endure long periods of drought, and is an excellent coastal plant that is salt tolerant. For best results in the garden, water sparingly during long dry spells.
Although it will grow in any well-drained soils and even in poor and arid soils, in the garden it will thrive if some compost is added to the planting holes, and the occasional mulch with well-rotted kraal manure or compost will keep the plant happy without any additional fertilisation.
The mother plant produces many offsets which can be removed for propagation purposes, and this is one of the more aggressive aloe species, sometimes showing up many feet away from the parent plant.
Problems, Pests & Diseases:
If grown correctly this aloe is virtually disease free, but watch out for scale insects and mealybugs.
Members can click here to read a more in-depth article on aloe problems, pests & diseases
Warning:
The inflorescence is and the seeds are reputedly poisonous.