Aloe arborescens | oil on canvas

Aloe arborescens begins life as a tiny seed dropped from a dried flower head, settling into sandy or rocky soil. With enough moisture, it germinates and sends up its first fleshy leaves, already storing water to survive drought. As it matures, the plant grows into a multi-stemmed, tree-like shrub, each branch tipped with a rosette of spiked, blue-green leaves. In winter, it produces tall, fiery red-orange flower spikes rich in nectar—an essential food source for sunbirds and insects. Once pollinated, the flowers dry into capsules that split open, releasing winged seeds to the wind. Even after flowering, the plant continues to grow from its base, forming dense clumps that can live for decades, repeating the cycle of growth, bloom, and seed.