Description

☀️ Light
Full Sun to Partial Shade. In Malta, it thrives in the blazing sun. The more sun it gets, the better the color (especially for the variegated red or bronze versions). In deep shade, it will lose its “stiff” upright shape and the leaves may droop.

💧 Watering
Moderate to Low. While it likes regular water to grow fast, it is incredibly drought-tolerant once established in the ground.
In Pots: Don’t let the soil turn into dust. Water when the top 5cm of soil is dry.
The Malta Tip: It can handle the humid, salty air of coastal towns like Marsaxlokk or Sliema better than almost any other decorative leaf plant.

🍃 Foliage / Growth
It grows in large “fans” of leathery, strap-like leaves. It can get huge—up to 2–3 meters tall and wide! For smaller Maltese balconies, look for “Dwarf” varieties like ‘Amazing Red’ or ‘Jack Spratt’.

🪴 Potting Mix
Anything goes. It is not picky. It handles the heavy, alkaline, clay-like soil of Malta very well. If planting in a pot, just ensure there are plenty of drainage holes so the roots don’t sit in stagnant water during a rainy November.

🌿 Fertilizer
Low maintenance. A single application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in the spring is plenty. If you over-fertilize, you might get a massive growth spurt that makes the plant too heavy for its base.

🐕🐈 Pet Safety
Non-toxic. It is generally considered safe for cats and dogs, though the leaves are so tough and fibrous they aren’t very “tempting” to chew on anyway!

*Pictures shown may vary from actual product due to the live nature of the items. Some items may be out of stock for various reasons, we will issue a refund or offer alternatives should that be the case.
The Price is per one individual plant.