Plant

Common Climbing Aloe

Aloiampelos ciliaris

Also known as Climbing Aloe, Fringed Aloe

Common climbing aloe scrambles through coastal thickets and dry river valleys, using surrounding shrubs and trees to hoist its long, slender stems toward the sunlight. Distinctive soft white hair-like teeth encircle each stem at the leaf base, creating a fringed sheath that easily distinguishes this rambler from other succulents. Dense racemes of tubular, scarlet to bright orange flowers bloom throughout much of the year, drawing sunbirds and bees in large numbers.

SucculentClimberBird-Pollinated

—observations

—countries

—peak records

Least ConcernConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyAutotrophic

Predators

Browsing antelope
Domestic goats
Snails

ThreatsHabitat clearing, invasive alien plants, overgrazing

HabitatsCoastal thicket, dry riverine scrub, valley bushveld

Life span20–50 years

Classification

OrderAsparagales
FamilyAsphodelaceae
GenusAloiampelos
SpeciesAloiampelos ciliaris

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskHigh

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is high: Toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; safe for humans to touch and observe.
Why it is dangerous: Leaves contain anthraquinone glycosides like aloin, causing vomiting, lethargy, and severe diarrhea in domestic cats and dogs.
How to recognize a risky encounter: Look for sprawling or climbing fleshy stems with soft white fringe rings encircling each leaf sheath.
What to do: Harmless to handle, but keep cuttings and garden plantings out of reach of domestic pets.

Responsible observation

Identification: Look for the collar of soft white teeth wrapped around the stem nodes.
Pet Safety: Keep trailing stems away from curious house pets prone to chewing greenery.

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