AFAIK, it is a hybrid of two hybrids, so who knows?

And this is pure speculation but I believe Starry Night is an early rendition of Night Sky, a patented aloe from Altman Plants. The descriptions of the two are virtually identical and the patent app for Night Sky actually uses the name Starry Night in several instances.

hit the first link about lowes..... ken

duh.. how about i add the link: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffcm&q=Aloe+%27Starry+Night%27&ia=web

Ken, I saw this in my own research. No where in that link does it say which species where involved in this hybrid. Starry Night is not a species designation.

@Margaritaville (Zone 7b/NJ), check out the patent application for Night Sky. Besides the almost exact description and references to Starry Night (that leads to the assumption these may be the same plant or very closely related), there is a declaration of parentage. That states the aloe in question is a hybrid of two other aloe hybrids. And because neither of the parent plants are patented, there is no further discussion of parentage. Outside of a patent application, it is rare that you will ever get much detail as to the parentage of hybrid plants. And hybrid offspring of other hybrids are even less likely to be genetically identified.

btw, there is NO evidence to support that Starry Night is even a registered cultivar at all. You might want to inquire of Altman Plants as that is the only authoritative reference to be found but still only mentions Starry Night in passing with the patent app.

you guys are losing me ... whenever i run across something like this.. i presume some evil being is avoiding paying a patent fee ... by slightly changing the name .. and i leave it at that ...

and that this all started in a big box ... imo .. just about says it all ....

if you want to collect plants.. consider your source ... as im sure you well know ....

and do understand.. searching information to find out if you discovered a rare gem in the bargain rack IS HIGHLY APPROVED ... but as some point ... see above ...

ken

Thanks, gardengal, that was highly informative. You have a plethora of botanical information.

Here is the succulent of dubious genealogical ancestry. Said to sucker constantly, so soon there will be more of the little bas!ard$, LOL

I don't get into discussions like this too often, but "Starry Night" attracted me. All I have to offer is: I bought a plant almost exactly like the one in Margaritaville's picture above shown as "Starry Night," and it's one of my best aloes. Love it! Has grown a lot since I bought is, isn't too particular about bright versus direct light, and pups modestly. It wasn't labeled at all when I bought it at Lowes, but it WAS an Altman plant. All I did was a photo search online until I found something that looked like it and that was named "Starry Night." For my purposes (fun hobby, not too concerned with patents and lineage), this has been an enjoyable and easy to grow plant.

Robin, I could care less for its pedigree genealogy, patent status, etc.., after all, we all know that mixing the gene pool up a bit does have distinct advantages. LOL. Glad it worked out for you.

I was just looking to expand my aloe collection to match my agave collection. I love both genera but think I prefer Agave..., maybe for their tequila contribution. LOL.

Mgville,

If you like tequila (I've enjoyed the nectar for well nigh 15 years now, after getting into growing agaves), you'll love sotol, a tequila relative that is made from the agave relative Dasyllirion wheeleri.

Ha ha, I actually HATE tequila! My screen name comes from the fact that among my Citrus collection, I get the biggest hauls from the limes every year. Having said that, I do have a blue tequila agave. Mojitos are a different story, however. LOL! And you can't beat that Buffett tone, especially this time of year.Margaritaville song