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Small offsetting terrestrial bromeliad which clads the steep dry hills of Peru with huge tight mounds of hard spiny rosettes. Easy to grow, best in bright light. Outdoors, it thrives in well-drained location, rockery etc.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Comments later, too busy right now!

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Graceful and spineless beats graceless and spitefull.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Passionfruit Lump Plant. Large smooth tapered caudex sends up one or more vines in the summer growing season. Scented cream flowers and orange fruits with poisonous seeds. Indoors only, easy. But withhold water when leafless.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Rare plant from driest rocky sandy deserts of Namibia where its caudex grows to 1m diameter. Short spiky branches with small leaves in summer only. Keep dry in winter. Take photos while it is alive.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

Freeflowering caudi with bright red fruits in late autumn.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Rarely offered species from Namibia and Angola that slowly grows a tall thick trunk. Large leathery leaves followed by soft pink flowers with a dark red throat. Indoors only in bright light. Good drainage essential. Very dormant in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Impala Lily. Differs from A.obesum: daintier flowers when still leafless in spring. As with obesum, the trunk base becomes a swollen wonder. Delicate plant, avoid cold or waterlogged soil, esp. in winter. Indoors only. Watch for insects.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

Narrow upward downy leaves on thin branches from a fat gnarly raiseable base. Bright pink flowers in summer, dormant and leafless in winter. Slowgrowing species very much suited to a bonsai presentation.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

New hybrid with stunning vivid red flowers. Typical swollen trunk base. Delicate plant, avoid cold or waterlogged soil, esp. in winter. Indoors only. Watch for insects.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Species info not ready at time of printing.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Considered by some as a subspecies of A. obesum, this South African plant differs mainly in its larger, attractive solid pink flowers and slightly fuzzy leaves. Easy to grow, but indoors only in bright light. Keep dry in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Miniature windowsill plant. Crevice dweller suits a small bonsai presentation in a shallow pot with sandy potting mix. Give brightest light for best leaf colours, but don't cook roots when pot overheats. Keep on the dry side in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Choice miniature forming eventually a low massive raft bottom. Give brightest light for best red colours in leaf. Needs excellent drainage, and air movement. Remove old flowerstalks to avoid rotting.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Miniature windowsill plant. Crevice dweller suits a small bonsai presentation in a shallow pot with sandy potting mix. Give brightest light for best leaf colours, but don't cook roots when pot overheats. Keep on the dry side in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Small dull-green fat textured leaves. Crevice dweller suits a small bonsai presentation in a shallow pot with sandy mix. Give brightest light for best leaf colours, but don't cook roots when pot overheats. Keep on the dry side in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Miniature windowsill plant. Crevice dweller suits a small bonsai presentation in a shallow pot with sandy potting mix. Give brightest light for best leaf colours, but don't cook roots when pot overheats. Keep on the dry side in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Another miniature plant for fans of army camouflage. Red-spotted leaves in dense rosettes to about 12cm across. Small tubular flowers in summer. Indoors only, in very bright light. Keep dry in winter.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Brazilian bromeliad with fiercely tipped variegated leaves. Handsome symmetrical rosettes to 60 cm diameter, later offsetting. Easy to grow, in bright garden position or pot.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

This bromeliad has narrow vases and reddish grey leaves. Prefers a sunny position

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Miniature cliffdweller from Canary Islands. Needs brightest light to retain the colour in its leaves. Stresses to lovely orange tones with red stripes. Suits bonsai treatment. OK outdoors.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Vigorous garden shrub to 1m+. Numerous large flat bright green rosettes, rapidly providing filler in the new succulent garden. Cream flowers massed in pyramidal racemes. Easy and fast.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

A bushy plant to 1m x 1m. Nearly black leaves contrast with racemes of golden yellow flowers. For pot or ground, in brightest light. (Sometimes, but wrongly, spelt 'Schwarzkopf').

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Beautiful whitish or bluish solitary rosette to 1m diameter. From Cuba and rare in cultivation.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

New and unusual colour form! Leaves grey with streaks and stripes of pastel yellow on this cultivar. Easy and fast outdoor specimen, grows to 2 metres or so across. Very tolerant of salt, wind, poor soil, neglect etc.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Leaves grey with striking yellow edge on this cultivar. Easy and fast outdoor specimen, grows to 2 metres or so across. Very tolerant of salt, wind, poor soil, neglect etc.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Highly endangered in Arizona (Cites 1). 40cm rosette with straight sharp leaves with tiny teeth. Offsets slowly to form a small cluster in time. Hardy in dry outdoor conditions.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

(At least we THINK it is atrovirens). Colossal rosette to 5m+ diameter. V.fast grower with dark green leaves and power-pole-like peduncle.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Literally "teeth that rip and tear". Fierce but incredibly graceful Agave for large pot or warm garden. To 90 cm diameter, and slowly offsetting.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Beautiful landscaping species with smooth-edged arching light blue-green leaves on a rosette eventually to 2m plus diameter. Easy outdoors, always seems to look good, and not dangerous to people.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Graceful spineless rosettes to 80cm. Offsets with age. Stunning 2 meter inflorescence forms a huge white bottle-brush of flowers. Does not die after flowering. OK outdoors in frost-free, well-drained area.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Beautiful medium sized offsetting Agave from Sonora, Mexico. Eventually gets to around 75cm across. Easy outdoors in well drained sunny position. Flower spike to 3 meters high with dense yellow flowers.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Separated from Agave sp. FO 76, having more leaves which are more pointed, glaucous & without midstripe, on a smaller rosette with numerous and smaller white teeth. Easy in pot or garden.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Rare Mexican. Lovely whitish-green leaves with sharp tips. Easy to grow outdoors in the ground or in a big pot. Tolerant of light frosts. Sun or semi-shade.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Rosettes to 60cm diameter, with glaucous thick rigid leaves upmarketly upswept. Apparently among the more edible of the Agaves (to the Indians of the northern Baja Peninsula). Let us know how you went. Untried outdoors.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Spain's answer to victoria-reginae, (although now considered a variant of the latter). However it is distinctive and superb. Fewer leaves but better paint job and huge black sculptured awns. 60cm rosette for well-drained, sunny position.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

This form ("sp Lau") has a larger rosette to 1.5 m diameter. Leaves are not so straight, less stiff, and have less curling white filaments. Easy to grow outdoors in the ground or in a big pot. Tolerant of light frosts. Sun or semi-shade.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Pronounced wardal a hararna. Beautiful compact light grey rosette to 50cm diam. Seldom offsetting. Attractive mammillate leaf margins. Bright light needed. Mexico 5000 ft, so outdoors OK.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Little-known miniature Agave with very broad leaves between which appear the axillary offsets. The rosettes grow to only 10cm diameter. Suited for indoors or patios or in mild areas in the rockery.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Fierce rosette to 60cm diameter, later forming a trunk clothed in sharp, narrow persisting leaves, toothed on the margins. Tough and easy in the garden.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Absolutely fiercesome ball of stiff narrow leaves very slowly becoming trunked. One of the few trunked Agaves!

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Soft, brittle yet rubbery leaves (impossible?) on sparse flat rosette to 50cm. Leaf stresses up v.red, but has pale mid-stripe. Unusual Agave in that it is unarmed and not closely related to any other.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Large solitary rosette of dark green toothless leaves, to about 1 meter across. Excellent garden plant for well drained sunny spot and will take at least a light frost.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Tight and handsome rosette (to 60cm diameter) of broad black-tipped leaves. Suits patio tub or garden. Frost-hardy. Watch for scale insects. Eventually offsets.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Rare species from Mexico, bearing unusually large and attractive teeth. Possibly a naturally ocurring hybrid of Agave kerchovei and marmorata. OK outdoors in a sunny well-drained area.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Miniature from Mexico with beautiful white markings, about 20cm across at maturity. Easily confused with A. parviflora & toumeyana bella, but it has unusual bright pink flowers. Offsets slowly to form a small cluster. Hardy in dry outdoor conditions.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Handsome rosette to 30cm diameter of blue-grey leaves with attractive bud imprints. Eventually offsets. Suits patio tub or garden. Easy plant, tolerates light frost.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Beautiful blue leaved Agave from Texas & Mexico. Offsets freely and may reach 1.8 m. across after many years. Leaves have a sinuous sinusoidal sexiness. Suitable for hot, dry well drained gardens.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Probably a non-blue form of A.titanota. Colourful chunky 70cm rosette, plus offsets. Large ‘claspy’ spines coloured white to brown and a darker central leaf band. Does well outdoors or in a rockery.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Related to A.lophantha but probably inseparable from A.xylonacantha this handsome form has a white corneous leaf margin with attractive teeth on a medium rosette of green sometimes mid-striped leaves. To 90 cm diam.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Many sharp needle-like leaves to 60cm eventually radiate almost spherically. Some are bluer than others. Handle with care and keep clear of children, except naughty children. OK outdoors in tub or garden.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Cute many-leafed miniature form of A.stricta, growing to only a little bit in diameter compared to bigger ones. Especially good for cats which like to sit on your plants. Good outdoors in Mexico. Possibly here also if drained +++.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

As gorgeous as an Agave can get, this solitary rosette will have rigid leaves to 25cm with grey/blue leaf colours and a smooth and toothless leaf edge. Cold hardy but best indoors in NZ (because our winters are wet).

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Miniature from Arizona with beautiful white markings, about 20cm across at maturity. Offsets slowly to form a small cluster in time. Similar to A. parviflora & polianthiflora. Hardy in dry outdoor conditions.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

An extreme form of utahensis, with stiff leaves to 250mm with a startling white awn (i.e. end spine) theoretically to as long as 20cm. Teeth larger and crooked in this form.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

There are 4 varieties of the species utahensis, each of which shows great variability. Rigid leaves to 250mm with grey/blue leaf colours and varied spine shapes and colours. Cold hardy but best indoors in NZ.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Unusual bulb from South Africa with thin semi-succulent leaves that are often coiled like a spring. Scented yellow flowers from winter to spring. Dormant and leafless in summer. Good in pot or sunny garden.

7.Winter grower. Needs water in winter, not summer.

Rare even in succulentophile circles, but easy to grow, just allow it to go dormant for summer and it will come corkscrewing out of the ground again in Autumn.

7.Winter grower. Needs water in winter, not summer.

Spiny columnar lemur ladders to 15m high. Small succulent leaves are vertical on old growth and horizontal on new growth, dropping off in winter. Easy potplant but outdoors only in perfect free-draining location.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Large stemless solitary rosette to 1m diameter. Numerous thorns each having a white base. Erect racemes with a two-tone orange-red effect, 2-3 per inflorescence. Easy in large pot or in ground.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Rare slow-growing miniature from Madagascar. Clumps of narrow-leaved rosettes to about 15cm high. Flowers bell-shaped, pure white. Outdoor capability unknown. Prefers shade.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Spectacular tree aloe from S.Africa with large downcurving leaves and long narrow racemes of dense bright yellow flowers in winter. Slowly to 2m high. Tough outdoors, handles light frosts. Highly recommended.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Pretty leaves, covered both sides in white pointed tubercles, form a rosette to 30cm diameter, larger than its more common hybrid, and slower to offset. Short inflorescence of short racemes of large pink flowers.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Formerly known as A.bainesii. The second largest of all succulents, eventually reaching 18m in height. Even small plants soon form statuesque specimens. Tough grower in most areas. Mild frosts only.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Rare miniature Aloe with grass-like (but toothed) leaves to15cm from a swollen base. Eventually forms clusters of rosettes. Flowers whitish and small. Outdoor capability unknown.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Larger growing uncommon form of this common species. To 30cm diameter, usually offsetting, sometimes spotted, spots can be tubercled. OK outdoors in pot or garden in (at least) mild areas.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Summer flowering 60cm stemless rosette with smooth softly spotted leaves. Several successive inflorescences with clouds of lovely orange flowers. Easy outdoor plant in mild areas.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

8cm leaves mounted on distichous(fan-shaped) rosettes forming small clusters eventually. Flowers white.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Gorgeous grey/purple tones in stress, and probably best as a confined pot subject. Lovely yellow flowers in Aug/Sep. Solitary short-stemmed rosette to 50cm. OK outdoors

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Heavier leafed grey form of this stunning species. Stemless rosette to 60cm. Larger red teeth and red margin. Larger racemes of yellow flowers. Handsome. Should be OK outdoors in warm position.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Once a rare form of A. capitata but now recognised as a distinct species, this becomes a tree aloe to 2+ metres, and bears magnificent yellow flowers. Hailing from the fairly cold highlands of central Madagascar it seems to prefer the cool outdoors, not the heat of a greenhouse in summer.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

From arid stony deserts in Namibia. Greyish rosettes to 40cm across later offsetting. Red flowers in spring from a horizontal inflorescence to 50cm long. Probably not suitable outdoors (too wet in winter).

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Madagascan species with rosettes to 30cm across, greyish to reddish purple in full sun. Flowers elongated cone-like, yellow and scented. Outdoors in sheltered position, otherwise indoors in bright sunny spot.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Largest of the Grass Aloes and this is a giant form of it. Forms dense clumps to 1.5m high. Flowers during much of the year with large orange flowers. Use snail bait as necessary. Easy to grow in sun or part shade.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

This pendulous cliff-dweller from Somalia has small rosettes on long stems radiating from the rootstock, and it also stoloniferises. Scarlet flowers. Easy to grow in mild areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Compact garden plant with sometimes glaucous upright dark green leaves to 80cm long. Offsets at base to form tight groups. Yellow flowers in mid-winter.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Of 580 Aloe species this is the smallest, to about 4 cm diameter, later offsetting prolifically. Another amazing Madagascan! Cute orange bell-shaped flowers. Outdoors only in warm dry position.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Even cuter than the typical form, its leaves having brighter white spots, and whiter more prominent spikey teeth. Flowers are cylindric not conical, but otherwise shares the same habits and diminutive size.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Large sculptural tree to 8m., suits tub culture (or in the ground if sunny, sheltered, frost-free, well drained & fertile). Thick silvery trunk, later a branching crown and yellow flowers.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Rare and unusual Namibian relative of Aloe variegata. Solitary rosette to 30cm across. Flowers in autumn, very pale rose pink. Indoors only, in bright light. Susceptible to overwatering.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Tree Aloe to 2-3m. with erect narrow leaves, with oustanding red-brown teeth (frequently bicuspid). Precocious species with lax racemes arranged densely and in great quantity. Worth trying outdoors in good situation.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Toothy spotted rosette of merit despite the unusual epithet awkwardly complying with the two-word rule which is itself a nonsense nowadays. Flowers pinky red in a sub-dense raceme. Outdoors probably ok in good location.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Rare and beautiful species from the diamond fields of Namibia. Mostly solitary spectacularly spinaceous rosettes to around 30cm across. Slow growing, indoors only in bright light.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Noble plant from Zimbabwe. Heavy rosette atop a straight trunk to 2 - 6m in time, unbranched. Numerous racemes of brick-red to orange-red flowers in late winter, outer racemes angle out.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Now considered to be only a superior form of A.ferox. Larger curving leaves atop a stout unbranched trunk to 4m. Spectacular wider candelabras of white-tipped red flowers in midwinter. OK outdoors and frosthardy.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Our fastest-growing tree aloe, to 5 m ht. Showy red-opening-to-yellow racemes of tui-attracting flowers in early winter. Trim offsets regularly to keep trunk naked for best appearance.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

One of many Grass Aloes, so named due to their resemblance to grasses. This one forms a dense tuft of thin fleshy leaves and has small racemes of bright orange-red flowers. Well suited to the garden.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

60cm rosette of incurving leaves. From very arid areas near the Orange River, so must keep well-drained and warm. Flowers red, yellow, or bicoloured. Young plants are spotted.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Endangered species from mountains in SW Cape. Smooth broad lvs to 30cm long in fan-shaped rosettes which later offset basally. Capitate inflorescence of orange to scarlet flowers. Should be OK in wet winters in south facing positions.

7.Winter grower. Needs water in winter, not summer.

Rare and unusual cliff-dwelling Aloe from South Africa. Attractive upright bright red flowers in early winter. OK outdoors in frost free location, best planted on the edge of a wall so that it can hang.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Non-branching tree Aloe with long hanging leaves, from dry SW Madagascar. Eventually to 4m. Flowers yellow with red tips, in short broad racemes on numerous simple inflorescences. Easy in the garden in mild areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Grey-leaved medium-sized stemless rosette. Unknown outdoors for us.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Usually solitary stemless rosette to 40cm diameter. Branched erect inflorescence with scarlet flowers. Easy outdoors. Frost tolerance unknown as yet.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Madagascar's answer to Aloe striata. 40cm rosette of soft, broad, pin-striped, pink-edged leaves. Stresses up very nice and pinkly. Pot subject only, especially keep water out of rosette.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

A bushy Aloe from Madagascar forming clumps about 50cm high. Leaves redden and turn purplish in bright sun. Grows well outdoors in a well drained position. Red flowers in summer.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

A small prolifically offsetting Aloe well suited to outdoor gardens or container culture. The rose-pink flowers are produced throughout much of the year. Rosettes reach only about 12cm across. Best in shade.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Gorgeous green-striped Namibian relative of Aloe striata. Thick leaves on stemless rosette to 50cm diameter. Usually not offsetting. Pink flowers in March. Outdoors needs warm spot.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Attractive species from rocky areas of the northern Cape. Slowly to 1.5 m high with a thick usually unbranched trunk. Flowers red, multi-branched. OK outdoors in mild areas. Good drainage recommended.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Dentally distinguished blue-grey 30cm rosette featuring unusual close sawtoothery, sometimes pink-tinged. Cold-hardy if dry. Best appreciated when grown immaculately & brightly in a pot.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

Rare South African ‘Grass’ Aloe from Natal. Forms only 6-8 thin grass-like leaves to 30cm high. Flowers greenish yellow in spring. Dies back in winter, re-grows in spring. Bright light indoors, untried outdoors.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.