Aloe Vera Plants

Plant taxonomy classifies the aloe vera as Aloe barbadensis.

Aloe vera plants grow as perennials in tropical and sub-tropical regions, where the leaves of these clump-forming succulents are evergreen. Typically found in the wild in hot, dry climates, aloe vera is a natural for desert landscaping.

While capable of achieving a height of 3 feet, aloe vera plants more typically mature to be 1 or 2 feet tall. If you grow aloe vera plants indoors in containers, they most likely will remain on the shorter end of the height spectrum. When grown outdoors in warm climates, mature plants will produce yellow or orange flower heads on tall stalks. The sword-shaped, often grayish-green leaves grow in rosettes and are sometimes studded with white flecks. Short teeth run up the edges of the leaves.

Grow aloe vera plants in planting zones 9, 10 or 11. They are thought to be indigenous to Africa.

Grow aloe vera plants in full sun to partial shade and in a well-drained soil. These succulents are drought tolerant plants once established.

The key to growing these cactus-like plants is providing good drainage. When using aloe vera as a landscape plant, incorporate sand into the soil. For potted aloe vera, be sure to place crushed stone at the bottom of the container, which should, of course, have a drainage hole in its bottom. Aloe vera is relatively dormant in winter, meaning it will need very little water at that time. Even during the summer, be careful not to over-water established plants. If the leaves of aloe vera show signs of browning, consider cutting back on sun exposure.

As a houseplant, provide bright light for aloe vera.

Famous for its soothing medicinal properties, potted aloe vera plants are kept as houseplants by many people who treat them as "living first aid." E.g., when they burn a finger, they'll break off a lower leaf of an aloe vera and rub the juice on the burn. Removing the leaf does no damage to the aloe vera. This medicinal plant's motto is, "Doctor, heal thyself": the wound where the leaf was removed heals quickly.

As a potted plant, aloe vera may be treated as a houseplant or installed on patios, decks, etc. In the landscape (in zones 9, 10 and 11), its need for good drainage makes it an excellent candidate for rock gardens. These drought-tolerant succulents are also a natural for xeriscape design. Propagation is easy: just break off the offsets, allow them to make contact with the ground (sand is a preferred rooting medium) and watch them root!

There are many types of aloe plants in the world. Aloe vera is just one type, although it is, to be sure, the best known of the aloes. Perhaps that's why Linnaeus referred to this aloe as vera (Latin for "true"). The term stuck as part of the common name, but for the scientific name, many now prefer the designation of Philip Miller, a Scottish botanist: Aloe barbadensis. Miller's species name, barbadensis means "of Barbados." That's a rather misleading name, since most experts do not believe that aloe vera plants are native to Barbados (asserting, instead, that they were brought there by the Spaniards).

As for the genus name, Aloe, the Online Etymology Dictionary states that the word derives from the Greek, aloe, a translation of the Hebrew name, ahalim. Aloe plant is, indeed, mentioned in the Bible.