Question
I recently purchased a good sized plant that the amish greenhouse guy said was an aloe vera cactus.....I have kept it outside and it is a bit darker reddish brown than indoor aloe vera...it has since developed a tall flowering seedhead with red seed/small flowers....I am wondering about 2 things....how can this plant be propagated , since it doesnt seem to be sending out tubers or rhizomes,...and can it overwintered outside in central kentucky in a container?

Answer
Nellie,

Based on your description, you plant does not sound like an Aloe. It sounds more like a Hesperaloe parviflora, which is more closely related to Yuccas than Aloes. They eventually produce "pups", but they also produce seed every year. I have included a link to a webpage that might help if your plant is what I think it is. If not, please send me a photo to [email protected] if you can.

http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Hesperaloe_parviflora.html

I don't know much about the weather in Kentucky, but the webpage shows minimum winter temperature. As long as you don't stay at that temp for too long, it may survive.

Hopefully this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg