Aloe rebmannii is a plant so striking, it doesn't even look like a plant—its deep green, almost black, glossy body is dotted with white or brown spots, sometimes subtle, sometimes bold. It's hard to believe a design this perfected isn't a hybrid, but an actual species native to Madagascar (in fact, it was once suspected to be a hybrid). As it matures, its slender leaves begin to curl, taking on a mysterious allure, flaunting orange, fang-like tips.

Its scientific name honors the French botanist Norbert Rebmann, who also described other Aloe species; it was classified as a new species in 2002. There are two N's and two I's in "rebmannii." While the precise Latin pronunciation would be "rebmannii," most people simply call it "rebmanee."

Related species include Aloe deltoideodonta A. deltoideodonta , which has broader, lighter-colored leaves with whitish teeth, and Aloe rauhii A. rauhii , which, well… doesn't look anything like it! This only highlights just how unique Aloe rebmannii truly is.

By the way, this black coloration is a special feature that appears only when the plant gets plenty of direct sunlight; under normal conditions, it typically remains a deep green—so keep that in mind!

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  1,600JPY