Cushion Aloe
Aloe brevifolia · Native to South Africa
A compact, clumping aloe that forms tidy blue-green rosettes like little cushions. Sculptural, sun-loving, and right at home in small spaces.
Available in 4½ inchCare
Light
Thrives in bright, indirect light with some direct sun. Good light keeps it compact, and strong sun can blush the leaf tips rosy-red.
Water
Water when the soil is completely dry. Like most aloes, it prefers dry conditions and excellent drainage.
Soil & Feeding
Use a fast-draining cactus or succulent soil, and fertilize lightly once a month during spring and summer.
Quick Tip
It readily produces offset “pups” around the base — leave them to build a cushion, or divide them to make new plants.
Details
Its compact rosette of fleshy, toothed green leaves forms a dense, cushion-like shape that clusters over time.
- ✅ Compact and sculptural
- ✅ Easy-care and drought-resistant
- ✅ Perfect for small spaces
Size
Available in a 4½ inch pot — a great starter size that’s easy to place on a windowsill, desk, or shelf, and simple to repot or divide as it clusters.
Good to Know
⚠️ Toxic if ingested — keep away from pets and children.
Plant Bio
Aloe brevifolia · the Short-leaved or Blue Aloe
Cushion Aloe is a dwarf aloe native to the Western Cape of South Africa. Its species name, brevifolia, means “short-leaved” — a fitting description for this compact little plant. In the wild it’s actually endangered, but it’s become a beloved, widely grown succulent in cultivation.
It forms tight rosettes of stubby, fleshy, blue-green leaves lined with soft white teeth along the edges. The plant offsets generously, building up into dense, cushion-like clusters — the source of its common name. In strong light or cool weather, the leaves take on warm pinkish-red tones.
Given enough sun and maturity, it sends up slender stalks of tubular orange flowers that hummingbirds and pollinators love.
Care is classic aloe: bright light, gritty fast-draining soil, and water only once fully dry.
How is it different from other aloes?
- It’s a true dwarf — small rosettes that clump into cushions rather than a single large plant.
- Its blue-green leaves blush rosy-red in strong sun.
- It offsets freely, quickly filling a pot with pups.
Note: Like most aloes, it’s considered toxic if ingested. Keep out of reach of pets and children. Grown for ornamental purposes and not intended for consumption.