Aloe ‘DZ’

Karen Zimmerman’s documented aloe hybrid

‘DZ’ is a horticultural Aloe bred by Karen Zimmerman at The Huntington. Huntington records it as a cross between Aloe ‘Confetti’ and Zimmerman selection kz#1, a seedling of A. divaricata × A. parvula. It entered cultivation through the International Succulent Introductions programme rather than from a wild locality.

The parent species belong to the dryland aloe flora of Madagascar and southern Africa. Their rocky, seasonally dry habitats help explain the hybrid’s fleshy water-storing leaves, compact rosette and toothed surfaces.

Light, drying and root care

Support, pruning, handling and leaf care

Allow Aloe ‘DZ’ to remain a compact single rosette or small clump, and leave enough space around its pointed leaves so their tips are not knocked. The rosette normally needs no stake.

Watering

Let the mix around Aloe ‘DZ’ dry from top to bottom, then soak the whole root ball and allow it to drain completely. Strong sun, warmth, terracotta and a crowded clump shorten the dry interval; cool shade, a large pot and dense mix lengthen it.

Light

Stand Aloe ‘DZ’ directly on a sunny south-, west- or east-facing sill, with the rosette close enough to the glass to receive several hours of sun. Weak light opens the rosette, lengthens the leaves and reduces new growth.

Temperature

Keep Aloe ‘DZ’ in warm growing conditions while it is actively making roots or leaves. Move the rosette back from freezing window glass and winter ventilation.

Fertilising

Feed Aloe ‘DZ’ lightly while a new leaf, offset or fresh root is developing. Continue a small dose at any time of year if growth is clearly active; pause when the plant is cool, dry and resting.

Normal ridges, colour and warning signs on Aloe ‘DZ’

• Raised red lines and small red marginal teeth appear on firm leaves: Those textured red ridges and teeth are defining features of ‘DZ’, not oedema or pest damage. Investigate only when a mark becomes soft, wet-looking, removable or continues into an irregular dead patch.
• The compact rosette opens and new leaves grow longer: Light is too weak to maintain the cultivar’s tight shape. Increase bright light gradually and rotate the pot; stretched leaves will not shorten, but later growth should sit more closely around the centre.
• Pale tan patches form on the window-facing side: A sudden increase in direct sun has scorched the surface. Step the plant back, then acclimatise it more slowly; normal red pigmentation remains firm, whereas scorch becomes bleached or papery.
• White fluff is wedged among the raised leaves: Mealybugs favour the protected leaf bases. Separate ‘DZ’ from nearby succulents, clean deep into the rosette and follow the repeat-treatment steps in our mealybug guide

Aloe ‘DZ’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs, and handle the leaf tips carefully.
• The leaf latex contains anthraquinone glycosides that can irritate skin and the digestive tract. Rigid tips and toothed margins can also scratch or puncture.
• Swallowing the latex may cause an upset stomach, while skin contact can cause irritation. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop.

How the name Aloe came about

Aloe comes through Greek aloe, an old name for the bitter plant juice, itself borrowed from a Semitic language.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Aloe in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 319.