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Plant Fact Sheet ASPHODELACEAE Occurring in arid areas of western South Africa and Namibia, Aloe dichotoma are well known sentinels of their stony, desert domain. These sculptured succulents can grow 10-15 ft, sometimes to 20 ft tall with a base 3 ft in diameter. The branching and re-branching begin about half way up the tapering trunk, earning the plant its specific epithet for this dichotomous pattern. The common name comes from the fact that Bushmen created quivers (kokerboom) for their arrows by hollowing out the soft branches. The canary yellow flowers occur in winter and are held close to the leaves, not nearly as showy as many other species of aloes. The outstanding profile of a mature plant more than compensates for any toned down floral display. The copious nectar of the blossoms draws birds and insects as well as baboons that can strip a tree of its flowers in a short time. Being one of the only tree forms in its arid habitat, Aloe dichotoma oftentimes plays host to huge colonial nests of social weaver birds.
Several specimens of quiver tree can be seen in the Aloe Garden in the African section of The Living Desert.
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Kokerboom/
In
habitat, the kokerboom receives rainfall, if at all, in the winter, similar
to the Coachella Valley. In the garden, this aloe should be planted in
well-drained soil and NOT over-watered during the summer dormant
period. In a mixed planting of aloes at The Living Desert, Aloe dichotoma
tolerates weekly watering in the summer; once a month, or not at all in
the colder months of Dec. and Jan. and twice a month in the warmer months
of fall and spring. This schedule is adjusted to compensate for current
weather trends: hotter, colder, wetter or drier. Most problems, and successes,
in a landscape occur as a result of how and when water is applied. Get
to know the plants, the soil and keep an eye on the weather.
