Aloe Marlothii | oil on canvas

Aloe marlothii begins its life as a small, wind-scattered seed that lands in open, sunlit soil—often on rocky slopes or well-drained savanna ground. Once rain arrives, it germinates and sends up its first thick, moisture-holding leaves, immediately built for survival in dry landscapes. As it matures, the plant develops its iconic single trunk topped with a large, spiky rosette of broad, heavily armed leaves. Over many years it grows into a statuesque, tree-like aloe that can reach impressive heights. In late winter or early spring, it produces a spectacular candelabra of flower spikes—dense, upright branches covered in bright orange-yellow blooms rich with nectar. These flowers become a seasonal magnet for sugarbirds, sunbirds, and bees. After pollination, the blooms dry into capsules that split open to release papery seeds back to the wind. Long-lived and slow-growing, Aloe marlothii repeats this cycle for decades, standing as one of the great sculptural sentinels of the African bus.