Bitter Aloe

Afrikaans name: Bitteraalwyn

Photo © Steven Herbert

Aloe ferox

The Bitter Aloe gets its name from a bitter extract, obtained from it, that is used as a purgative medication.

It is a common plant that grows to a height of 3 metres.

The Bitter Aloe is found over a range of 1,000 km from the Western Cape through to KwaZulu-Natal.

These aloes flower in winter and produce a spectacular display of flowers. The flowers attract numerous sunbirds and weavers.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Author: E. Palmer - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 78

A Photographic Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa - Author: Braam van Wyk - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 67

Country Life - Issue 276 - Author: - Year Published: 2019 - Page: 18

Guide to the Aloes of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: Ben-Erik van Wyk and Gideon F. Smith - Year Published: 2014 - Page: 62

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 392

Road Tripping South Africa - Author: MapStudio - Year Published: 2014 - Page: 74

Sasol First Field Guide to Aloes of Southern Africa - Author: Gideon Smith - Year Published: 2003 - Page: 27

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Year Published: 1994 - Page: 56

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Year Published: 2002 - Page: 109

What Aloe is That? - Author: Eric Judd - Year Published: 1967 - Page: 40

What Aloe is That? - Author: Eric Judd - Year Published: 1967 - Page: 60