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Failed Aloifolia Owner Here

Message from Jim Wilmington DE 7a

Let me preface this story by making the important disclaimer that it WAS the 1980s.

One spring, back in the 80s, I brought back from Myrtle Beach a 1-gallon Aloifolia. The plant was easily 3 or 5-gallon size, though. BEAUTIFUL. The prettiest, healthiest Aloifolia you ever saw. First winter in the ground killed it. I didn't do anything to protect it -- not even mulch. But I was a kid then (in my 20s). I figured, "They grow in Virginia Beach. Why not Lenni, PA? It's not THAT far away. It's not Florida."

The one thing I did right with the Yucca was I planted it at the top of a raised bed (even though the soil was heavy clay).

Aloifolias are not Filamentosas or Recurvifolias. Even Rostratas here are not as touchy as Aloifolias.

Having lost an Aloifolia, what I have personally found is that Recurvifolia makes a GREAT 7a substitute for Aloifolia. They are close to bulletproof, even planted out in the open, in clay. They grow relatively fast (compared to Sabals & Needles). And they are more "palmy" looking than Aloifolia.


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