Aloe is a genius with over 500 species of perennial succulent flowering plants in the daylily family (Asphodelaceae ) . Many are ornamental and are cultivated as houseplants. If growing indoors, place in a south or west window. Most varieties need at least 6 hours of sun and grow best in full sun or very bright, indirect light. If moving your plant outdoors in the summer, gradually acclimate it to partial sun conditions. Allow the soil to dry between watering, then water well, allowing the water to drain from the pot. Use a potting soil appropriate for succulents and cacti and plant in a pot with several drainage holes; coarse, well-draining soil is a must. Clay pots are ideal. The most widely known one is Aloe vera from which various pharmaceutical products are made. Most species have thick succulent leaves growing in a rosette and reproduce by offsets. They vary in size from small succulents up to tree forms. Tubular flowers are usually densely clustered along leafless stems in various colors. Aloes are an easy-to-grow houseplant requiring little maintenance. Quick ID: Rosette of fleshy, lanceolate leaves with white dots (maculation) Serrate margins on the leaves Soft and easily breakable with a gel-like sap inside VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Edible; Herbaceous Perennial; Houseplant; Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Perennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green; Variegated
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Prickly
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Size and form varies by species, but most grow in a basal rosette of fleshy green to blue-green leaves. Some grow in a more fan-shaped alternate arrangement instead. They are thick, succulent, pointed, and may have stripes or mottling. They can be distinguished from Haworthia by the serrate margins and from Agave by the thickness and gel-like sap.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are tubular, pendant and borne in dense clusters at the apex of simple or branched, leafless stems. May take several years before blooming, but they bloom multiple times in their lifetime.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Africa
Food & Medicine
Edibility
A Juice is made after the aloin has been removed.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The gel from the plant is used in various skin and hair care products. It is also used in herbal medice.
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs
Resistant to
Drought; Dry Soil
Propagation
Division
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Leaves; Sap/Juice
Poison symptoms
Poisonous through ingestion or dermatitis. Not all people have sensitive skin. If eaten symptoms may include: Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, red urine; skin irritation from latex.