x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ after I brought it home on 5-9-19, #570-1.
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’
Aloe speciosa x Haworthia cymbiformis
AL-OH spee-see-OH-suh x ha-WORTH-ee-a sim-BIH-for-miss
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ is a bigeneric or intergeneric hybrid cross between Aloe speciosa and Haworthia cymbiformis.
The scientific name x Alworthia G.D.Rowley was named and described by Gordon Douglas Rowley in the National Cactus and Succulent Journal in 1973.
Aloe speciosa Baker is the accepted scientific name of one parent of xAlworthia ‘Black Gem’. It was named and described as such by John Gilbert Baker in Journal of the Linnean Society in 1880.
Haworthia cymbiformis (Haw.) Duval is the accepted scientific name of the other parent. It was named and described as such by Henri August Duval in Plantae Succulentae, in Horto Alenconio in 1809. It was first named and described as Aloe cymbiformis by Adrian Hardy Haworth in Transactions of the Linnean Society in 1804.
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ on 5-9-19, #570-2.
I brought this x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ home from Wildwood Greenhouse on May 9, 2019. It was unlabeled so I posted photos to the Facebook group called Succulent Infatuation. I usually get a pretty fast response and it is much better than trying to figure it out. Within no time, a member suggested it was a xAlworthia ‘Black Gem’. I did a little research on the name and I think she hit the nail right on the head but we shall see. If I find out this is not an x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ I will change the name.
The cluster measures approximately 3 1/2” tall x 6 1/8” at the widest point. There are three rosettes plus two newer offsets in the pot. The pot measures 3 7/8” tall x 4 1/2” diameter pot.
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ on 6-16-19, #591-4.
The x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ is still doing fine on the front porch. It’s a little hard to describe the light there, but I think the succulents get plenty. I just have to remember to water since there is a roof overhead.
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ on 7-15-19, #601-4.
The x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ is enjoying itself on the front porch.
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ at 4 1/2″ tall x 8″ wide on 10-11-19, #639-9.
I had to move the plants inside for the winter on October 11 because an “F” was in the forecast. This has proven to be a great plant so far and measured 4 1/2″ tall x 8″ wide when I moved the plants inside. I think it will be quite a clumper…
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ on 11-13-19, #649-3.
I decided to put the x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ and several other cactus and succulents in larger pots after I brought them inside for the winter. I think fall is a good time to repot so their soil will be nice and loose for the winter.
<<<<2020>>>>
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ at 5 3/4″ tall x 10″ wide on 10-15-20, #747-11.
We made it through the summer with flying colors and this plant looks great! I had to move the plants inside for the winter on 10-15-20 because an “F” was in the forecast. This plant measured 5 3/4″tall x 10″ wide. So, it is growing well.
<<<<2021>>>>
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ at 5 1/2″ tall x 11 1/2″ wide on 8-17-21, #826-12.
LOOKING GOOD! The x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ has done well over the summer despite a small bout with mealybugs during the winter. The plant already has quite a few dead leaves which I had to remove so no bugs could hid in them. I cleaned its leaves and sprayed it several times but I will still need to watch it over the winter. Eggs could be lurking still… I normally measure the plants the I bring them in for the winter, but I am getting an early start on the plants on the front porch. On August 17, it measured 5 1/2″ tall x 11 1/2″ wide. That is 1/2″ shorter than last October and 1 1/2″ wider.
<<<<2022>>>>
The x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ is still alive and well even though I didn’t take its photo when I moved the plants inside for the winter in 2022 because it was having an issue with scale and didn’t look so well.
<<<<2023>>>>
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ on 10-24-23, #968-5.
Even though there was no “F” in the forecast until October 30, it was going to be a rainy week so I moved the potted plants inside on the 23rd and 24th. Time for photos and measurements… The x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ recovered very well from its issue, but I will continue keeping an eye on it over the winter.
There is very little information online about this plant so hopefully, I can contribute a little experience as time goes by. So far, I really like the x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Asphodelaceae
Origin: Hybrid. Parents are from South Africa
Zones: USDA Zones 9b-11 (25-40° F)
Size: About 6” tall
Light: Light to part shade
Soil: Very well-draining potting mix. I used 2 parts Miracle Grow Potting Soil with 1 part additional perlite and 1 part chicken grit for many years. Sometimes I use a 50/50 mix of Miracle Grow Potting Soil and pumice.
Water: Regular watering during the summer but sparingly during the winter.
<<<<2023>>>>
x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ on 10-24-23, #968-5.
Even though there was no “F” in the forecast until October 30, it was going to be a rainy week so I moved the potted plants inside on the 23rd and 24th. Time for photos and measurements…
The x Alworthia ‘Black Gem’ did very well during the summer on the back porch. It is still recooperating from its issue now we have to get through the winter.
Aloe and their cousins are some of my favorite plants. They are very easy to keep as companions as long as you follow a few basic rules. Even so, there have been a few I have had ups and downs with but eventually, we get it figured out, or at least we agree to disagree. Normally, it has something to do with water. You can’t lump all succulents in the same category when it comes to care because many are very unique in their preferences…
Aloe and their cousins are considered a summer dormant/winter growing species but for me, they seem to grow pretty much year-round. I read where Aloe hybrids don’t go dormant and whether they are summer or winter dormant depends on where the species are native. Personally, I think most Aloe will grow year-round if given the opportunity but I am no expert. For me, I think they do most of their growing while outside from May through mid-October, but most show no sign of being dormant while inside for the winter. Their growth does slow down while inside over the winter and I pretty much withhold their watering to a little once a month if necessary.
Most information online says Aloe “prefer” full sun but I keep mine on a west-facing front porch during the summer. There is a roof and two maple trees in the front yard that provide shade part of the day, but they still receive a few hours of direct sun. I guess you would call this “light shade”. The reason I keep them on the front porch instead of the back deck where the cactus are is because I don’t like their leaves to burn. Some species need bright light so their leaves won’t stretch, but not so much that their leaves burn. Of course, it all depends on your climate and you will just have to experiment. If you are keeping your Aloe inside for the winter and want them in the sun during the summer, you will have to allow them to get accustomed to brighter light gradually… From mid-October through April, sometimes into May, most of the succulents are sitting on shelves in a cool bedroom in front of a south-facing window.
You can read my Cactus Talk & Update and Cactus & Succulent Tips to get my opinion about growing cactus and succulents.
I hope you enjoyed this page and maybe found it useful. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, I would like to hear from you. Please click on “like” if you visited this page. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. 🙂 You can check out the links below for further reading. The links take you directly to the genus and species of this plant.
The Belmont Rooster 