Aloe vera ‘The Medicinal Aloe’

Aloe barbadensis, Aloe perfoliata var. vera, Aloe barbadensis, Aloe indica, Aloe vulgaris, Aloe chinensis, Aloe elongate, Aloe flava, Aloe lanzae, Aloe perfoliata var. barbadensis, Aloe vera var. chinensis, Aloe vera var. littoralis, Aloe vera var. wratislaviensis, Aloe barbadensis var. chinensis

Aloe, Medicinal Aloe, Curacao, Unguentine Cactus, Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, Medicine Plant, True Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, First Aid Plant, Bitter Aloe, Wand of Heaven and Miracle Plan

Aloaceae

Aloe vera probably orginated in northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

1 gallon

1-3'

1-3'

25 to 30°F; -3.9 to -1.1°C

High heat tolerance

Full sun along the coast. Inland it looks it best with light or filtered shade

Very drought tolerant but looks better with some irrigation in hot dry summer weather.

Remove spent flower spikes and dried leaves as desired.

Rock, succulent and cactus gardens. Excellent in xeriscape and fire resistant plantings. It's greenish-blue foliage provides a nice contrast to darker colored plants. This plant's flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Aloe vera can be grown in containers too. Requires good drainage wherever it is planted. Mass plantings are attractive, especially when in bloom.

A vera can be grown from seed but it is easier to divide mature plants to reinvigorate them and increase planting stock.

Occasional problems with mealy bugs and scale, especially when grown as a houseplant.

This aloe has 2 to 3 foot blue green leaves which are wider at the base and taper to a narrow tip. Over time it forms a nice basal clump by spreading with shallow rhizomes. Leaves can take on reddish purple hues when the plant is under cold and drought stress.In early spring it blooms in a dramatic display of vertical yellow flower spikes which can reach 3 to 4 feet.Aloe vera is renowned for its medicinal and cosmetic uses, however scientific evidence for the the effectiveness of it is limited and contradictory.Its leaf contains 12 vitamins and several other active ingredients and it is widely used in alternative medicine. The moist gel inside the leaves is usedfor the treatment of burns, cuts, sunburn, eczema and other skin complaints. It is also widely used in cosmetics.