| Description | Aloe vera is an extremely popular plant grown for its medicinal uses. The thick, gelatinous sap is used as a topical salve to heal burns, insect bites, and rashes. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Succulents, Perennial Tender, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | 10-12 |
| Sunlight | Grows best in full to bright light. In low light, it will become lanky and lose its natural form. |
| Moisture | Let the plant dry out between watering. It can withstand underwatering but is less tolerant to overwatering. |
| Growing Media | The easiest way to avoid overwatering this plant is to use a well-drained growing medium. Commercial mixes that are labeled for cactus and succulent plants all will work. |
| Temperature | This plant grows best in warmer sites. It will tolerate temperatures up into the low hundreds. The top will be killed in freezing temperatures, but the roots will remain alive as long as the soil or growing media isn't frozen. |
| Flowers | The flowers are orange to yellow, tubular (1-1.5") on an inflorescence. It is shy to flower in the house. |
| Leaves | The pale green leaves are very succulent, flecked with white, and have soft spines on the margins. The leaf is composed of a thick gelatinous sap. The plant forms clumps with many offsets. |
| Stems | It is considered stemless or has a very short stem. |
| Dimensions | It will become a large plant if grown outdoors in a frost-free area. |
| Maintenance | If given good growing conditions, it may need to be divided and repotted regularly. |
| Propagation | Very easy from division, also from seeds. |
| Native Site | Indigenous to East and South Africa, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, etc |
| Misc Facts | Aloe vera produces at least 6 antiseptic agents, three anti-inflammatory fatty acids and at least 23 polypeptides (immune stimulators). Truly "Mother Natures" cure all. Widely used in creams, lotions, shampoos, etc. Mention of this plant has been found as early as 2200 B.C. |
| Author's Notes | I would guess that Aloe vera would be among the top ten most recognizable plants. Extremely easy to grow and keep alive as long as it is given good light and not over watered |
| Notes & Reference | #18-House Plant Encyclopedia (Nico Vermeulen), #20-Exotica (Alfred Byrd Graf),#21-Indoor Gardening (Chicago Botanical Gardens Staff), #274-Site Authors' observations and growing experiences of Aloe vera |
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