This week’s title seems to suggest I found some intelligent soap. This is not the case. All of the soap in my house is as clueless as ever, just some suds. And I am not the sage one.
The soap comes from the Soap Aloe (Aloe saponaria) the orange flowers with a bit of green at the ends. Here is the plant. A South African native that flowers 4 times a year in my garden. If I break a leaf in half sudsy aloe pours out – apparently it is used to make shampoo. The dilemma, the large percentage of the population is allergic to it. I have not washed my hair with it, though I enjoy the flowers.
The sage in the arrangement is the Mystic Spires Salvia, the blue spikes. I have been enjoying the flowers for months and hopefully they will last into the winter. A closer view:
The blue spikes are Mystic Spires Salvia. The purple flowers are Mona Lavendar Plectranthus. The solid orange flowers are Mexican Bush Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera); green tipped orange flowers are Soap Aloe (Aloe saponaria); white flowers are Bridal Bouquet Frangipani (Plumeria pudica); grey foliage is more sage, Texas Sage (Luecophyllum frutescens); burgundy spikes are from a Dwarf Pineapple, a gift from a friend. The vase grounding the arrangement, a thrift store find and favorite.
Happy Gardening and thanks to Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting IAVOM..to see more vases follow the link.
The Shrub Queen 
I like that Mystic Spires Salvia. I don’t think of have heard of it and will have to look around for it. And the aloe blooms 4 times a year…that a great plant.
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I do, too. Blog friends have Mystic Spires in the UK and California..it must be adaptable. I think that aloe is bulletproof.
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Another great tropical design. I like the Mystic Spires Salvia also. Looks great with the orange.
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Thank you, I am enjoying the Mystic Spires and surprised by how well it is doing.
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It’s a beautiful arrangement, Amelia. I have to find some soap aloes as I love those flowers. You’ve also made effective use of Salvia ‘Mystic Spires’, which I’ve always struggled with in arrangements.
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Thanks, Kris. I have a large colony of Soap.
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Nice contrast between the purple and orange with the pop of white plumeria. Beautiful!
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Thanks, Eliza
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Aloe saponaria is a weird one. There is a bit of it here, but with short and stout rosettes. Leaves are longer and softer in partial shade or where it gets more water. In some situations, it is difficult to identify.
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It is and sharp!
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It is a softer in the partial shade or if watered regularly. Those in harshly warm and dry situations get sharper teeth.
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I like that you have shown the plant and also the flower in an arrangement.
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That’s interesting about the aloe and allergies… Having the round photo first is a great introduction to the vase, something I might try myself if you don’t mind me borrowing the idea! 😉 I think I have Mystic Spires too but I don’t think it will flower on and on here. The shade of blue works really well with the aloe blooms which don’t look as if they should belong to the plant somehow, so it was interesting to see them together in the second picture!
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Thank you, I don’t think I have tried the round picture before..I am going to be interested to see what happens with the Mystic Spires, it has been flowering since March, I keep feeding it and deadheading. There are some interesting aloes around here with beautiful flowers.
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Since March? That’s astonishing!
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The spikes are interesting and the Plectranthus as lovely as ever. It goes so nicely with fiery orange or red. 😃
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Thank you Cathy.
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