Hi Gang, I purchased seeds of Aloe cooperi a few years back from Silverhill Seeds. The seeds germinated easily, and the plants have grow well, so well that I gave some away. In the beginning, I was not sure what to expect, and kept the plants in a position that was not sunny enough. I was sure they would die with the least provocation. However, they did survive, and I potted them up to 2-gallon containers are year ago (or so). I put in lots of scoria, perlite, and very coarse sand. The plants hardly blinked when temperatures dropped to 23 F for an hour or two in the past 2 winters (about -5 C). They certainly did not lose their leaves; in fact they never lose their leaves, perhaps it is just not cold enough or dry enough here. The leaves reach to about 24 inches in length, and may get a bit of tip damage in winter, but they don't die back. This year the plants are tall, leaves over 24 inches, and the biggest plant has 4-5 leaf clumps; the scape reaches higher than the leaves. They don't make seed unless I hand pollinate them; I think they are lacking the right bird or insect. What keepers! The flowers are not exactly super gorgeous, but growing aloes outdoors in Houston is not a usual occurance. I have some more seedlings coming on (2 years behind), and some A. ecklonis and a few other things. I don't know if fungicides are helping, but I have always provided myclobutanil for the outside aloes, the seed grown Aloes from Silverhill. I use the Spectracide lawn granules/meal and put it over the top of the soil (they grow in pots), several times a year. Maybe they would do OK without fungicide, I can't say. However, from experience growing cacti here, I take no chances with plants from arid climates. Cordially, Joe