Description
It is a clumping and climbing plant of shrubby habit, with rosettes of succulent, arching octopus leaves striped with pale yellow. It could become a small tree up to 5 m tall by the time if given the proper conditions.
Stems: Produces thin upright trunks.
Leaves: Toothed and sword-shaped boldly banded cream and gold. The variegation is more pronounced if given partial shade.
Flowers: Occasionally it produces tubular red flowers in erect terminal racemes that may appear once the stalk matures.
Flowering season: Winter
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Cultivation and Propagation
This is a popular variegated cultivar that tends to be slower growing and a bit smaller in ultimate size if only given occasional water, but it quickly puts on size when irrigated more frequently. In cultivation it can be maintained at a smaller size with some judicious pruning and maintenance. It is not suggested for full sun exposures, but will tolerate full sun if acclimated slowly and not blazing heat. Shade will reduce the amount of margin reddening as well as drastically reduce irrigation needs. It is less frost-tolerant than the non-variegated form but can endure low temperatures, even below 5°C.
