Aloe Vera is an evergreen succulent plant in the daylily family (Asphodelaceae) native to the Arabian Peninsula that has spread to many other regions and is considered invasive in some counties. The genus name is derived from the Arabic word alloeh , meaning "bitter and shiny substance. The specific epithet comes from verus meaning "true" in Latin. It is often grown indoors as a houseplant, but it can be an outdoor perennial in zones 10 and higher. Grow this plant in full sun to partial shade in very well-drained soils suitable for succulents. Allow the soil to completely dry between waterings. The pot used should also have several drainage holes and clay is best. Water less frequently in the winter months. It will grow 2 to 3 feet tall and spread by offsets. Propagation can be done by division. The thick leaves contain a gell used in many commercial products. The stem can be broken and the gel applied to the skin and it is safe for most people. The leaves grow in a rosette and once the plant is at least three years old it will send up a stem with tubular orange to yellowish flowers near the tip that bloom from the bottom up. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Use this plant as a houseplant. It can be moved outdoors during the summer. In more temperate areas, aloe can be grown in a rock garden, winter garden or drought-tolerant garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mealybugs and aphids are insects that may affect the health of your aloe plant. Diseases include scale, leaf spot, aloe rust, and sooty mold. Overwatering should be avoided, it can lead to the roots rotting. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Aloe .
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.
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 pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Thick, succulent, pointed, basal leaves with a margin of small white teeth. The leaves may grow up to 18" in length. They are soft and easy to break, containing a gel-like sap within.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are orange to yellowish in terminal, elongated clusters. Densely packed pendulous flowers on a spike reaching nearly 3' in height. Flowers only appear on mature plants but will bloom multiple times in the plant's lifetime.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Stem detail
Short stout stem.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Arabian Peninsula
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Textural
Food & Medicine
Edibility
Causes low toxicity if eaten. Used medicinally and in drinks when properly prepared.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Has been used for centuries topically for cuts, sunburns, and other skin problems. Cut away the outer part of the leave and use only the gel. Test a small patch of skin first.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Patio
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden; Winter Garden