The motivating thing for me with aloes, especially open hybrids, is the way they can surprise you. Given the size and the promiscuity of the genus, all sorts of interesting combinations can arise from seed.
One of my goals in the container garden is to provide hummingbird flowers year-round. Various succulents work for that, including the native Dudleyas, aloes, Gasterias, and Echeverias. Also Dyckias. Depending on the season there may be several of each genus in flower. I have raised hybrids of these plants based on the work of the hummingbirds, mostly. Most of the hybrids are not that memorable but every once in a while something special stands out.
Here are the two Gasterias which made the cut from a dozen or so hybrid seedlings I raised recently. Same mother, same father.
They just flowered and one is pregnant.
