Aloe X 'Goliath'

[amarguy]

I've got one of these, reported to be a cross between A.vaombe and A.barbarae ... now blooming for the first time. I've read reports that it is weak trunked and susceptible to breaking ... anybody have this experience?

[palmbob]

I have not seen one break, yet, but I can sure see how that would happen... they hold dozens of huge, heavy leaves and thier trunks tend to be twisted and striking narrow at least compared to Aloe barberae trunks. I am frankly amazed mine hasn't toppled over in the Santa Anas.

[Allen Repashy]

If Kevin picks up this thread, he can answer you the best since he is the one who made and named the plant I believe. I think he recently told me he used the name 'Goliath' because once it got big it fell over like "Goliath" in his classic battle with David.... I love knowing what inspires the naming of plants....

[Kevin Coniff]

Don at Serra Gardens in Malibu put a embryo from a seed he thought was bainesii in tc at his nursery. It turned out to be the cross with vaombe. I grew about 200 plants from his first batch in the mid 1980's(?). Many are 10 to 15' + now. They lean when young and shed branches when large. Like Hercules it tends to fall apart when large and old. I still have about fifty big ones in grove together. I'll post photos sometime.