Aloe
( AL - loe )
At-A-Glance Information
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Aloe is a genus of succulent trees, shrubs, and perennials mainly hailing from South Africa. They need full sun or light shade, and little to moderate water. Their flowers attract birds, and can be orange, yellow, cream or red. The biggest show of blooms occurs in summertime, though many species bloom monthly. Leaves can be grey-green and are often banded or streaked with contrasting colors. Take care when cultivating these plants, as the latex beneath the skin can be irritating to some. The gel inside the leaf is actually part of the leaf that holds water to allow the Aloe to survive drought conditions, and is called the mesophyll layer.
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Aloe Species and Varietals
The genus Aloe includes around 650 distinct species and is in the family Asphodelaceae, making them relatives of Asphodel and Red-Hot Poker Plant. These succulents grow best in zones 8, 9 and 12-24, though there are some exceptions. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Aloe arborescens (Torch Aloe, Candelabra Plant) Grows best in zones 8, 9, 13-24, H1 and H2, and forms a rounded shrub about 10 feet tall and wide. Branching stems carry grey-green sword-shaped leaves with spiny edges. Winter flowers are salmon colored and held above foliage on spikes. Can withstand salt spray and tolerates shade. Foliage is damaged at around 27 degrees Fahrenheit. Yellow-flowered and variegated forms of this species are cultivated. |
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Aloe aristata This is a cold-hardy species of Aloe is good to temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants have a clumping habit, to about 10 inches tall and wide, with leaves ending in whip-like threads. Pink to red flowers bloom in summer. |
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Aloe barberae (Aloe bainesii) (Tree Aloe) This species of Aloe generally takes a tree-like form, slow growing to 20-30 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide with forking branches and trunk. Leaves on rosettes are 2-3 feet long, and spikes of rose-pink flowers bloom in late winter. Commonly called the Dr. Seuss Tree, it is valued for its stately sculptural habit. Hardy to 28 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Aloe 'Blue Elf' This is a dwarf, hybrid variety that produces 6 inch rosettes of blue-green leaves edged with teeth. Eventually forming a 1.5 foot tall, 2 foot wide mound that produces a spike of orange flowers in winter to spring. |
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Aloe brevifolia (Short-Leaf Aloe) This is a low-grower and forms spreading clumps of blunt, thick, blue-green, spiny leaves. Clusters of orange flowers bloom on 20-inch stalks intermittently all year, heaviest in springtime. Great for small spaces. |
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Aloe ciliaris (Climbing Aloe) Grows best in zones 8, 9, 12-24, H1 and H2. Climbing, sprawling habit with up to 10 foot long stems. Small green leaves have white 'eyelashes' at the base. Flower clusters with 20-30 green to yellow tipped scarlet flowers bloom year-round. Needs a little more shade than other Aloe, but also cannot tolerate frost conditions. |
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Aloe dawei (Dawe's Aloe) Grows best in zones 12-24, produces rosettes of bright green leaves with toothed margins form a clump 3-4 feet tall and wide. In late winter to early spring, bright orange-red flowers bloom on branched spikes. Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and is best with light shade in the hottest areas. These plants can burn even with reflected heat. |
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Aloe dichotoma (Kokerboom, Quiver Tree) This species of Aloe forms a compact tree with grey-green fingerlike leaves. Short clusters of bright yellow flowers appear in wintertime, and it grows slowly to attain a height of 12 feet tall. The trunk is massive and sculptural. Hardy to 27 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Aloe distans (Jewel Aloe) Has a running, rooting, branching habit that creates clumps of 6-inch green leaves with yellow or white teeth along the edges. In summer, forked stems produce flower clusters of red blooms. |
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Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe) A single, large trunk gets to 6-10 feet tall in about 10 years, and is topped by a crown of grey-green, red-toothed leaves 3-4 feet long. Each inflorescence has hundreds of bright scarlet to orange blossoms in late fall and early winter. |
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Aloe 'Hercules' Hybrid between Aloe dichotoma and Aloe barberae gets to 25 feet tall quickly, with a spread of 15 feet. Leaves are broad, dark and triangular, 2-3 feet long. Green-tipped orange flowers bloom from spring to fall. This species is hardy to 23 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Aloe 'Johnson's Hybrid' This compact species gets 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide, with bright green leaves that have faint white spots and small teeth. Flowers are bright orange and bloom on foot-tall spikes. Great in pots or when used as a groundcover. Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Aloe maculata (Aloe saponaria) (Soap Aloe) This plant produces rosettes on short stems that feature white-spotted green leaves. 1.5-2.5 foot tall branched flower stalks bloom with salmon-orange or yellow blossoms. Can grow as a solitary plant, but can also send out suckers to form dense, expanding colonies. Separate plants when the colony becomes too large. Variety 'Yellow Form' is dense, with lemon yellow flowers that bloom earlier than the species. |
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Aloe x nobilis (Gold-Tooth Aloe) Dark green leaves, edged with small hooked teeth form rosettes 1 foot tall and wide. Suckers freely, forming a spreading, mounding clump. Clusters of orange-red flowers on 2 foot stalks bloom in early summer. Great for pots, or in areas where there is limited space for roots. |
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Aloe polyphylla (Spiral Aloe) Grows best in zones 5, 6, and 15-17. This is an unusual plant, and forms a single, stemless rosette 1 foot tall and 1-2 feet wide. Leaves overlap and spiral in the same direction, creating a pinwheel effect. Mature plants generate a stalk 2 feet tall of salmon-pink to light red blossoms in late spring. This species prefers moist slightly acidic soil and needs partial shade in hot areas. Do not fertilize in summertime. Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Aloe speciosa (Tilt-Head Aloe) This species grows in zones 15-24, and is a tree-like form topped by a single rosette of sword-shaped blue-green leaves. Trunk stands up straight, but rosette sits at a tilt on top towards the sun. In fall, flower spikes about a foot long are dense with tricolored flowers that age from white to dark pink. Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Aloe striata (Coral Aloe) This plant forms a single 2 foot wide rosette with thick leaves that reach up to 20 inches long. Leaves are grey-green and often spotted and striped, with a narrow pink-red edge. Large branched clusters of coral flowers appear in mid-winter to spring. |
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Aloe striatula Hardy, succulent shrub with dark green leaves, that are striped around the bases. Multiple stems form a shrub 5-6 feet tall and 15 feet wide, but can be kept more compact with hard pruning. Single spikes of yellow flowers bloom from yellow-orange buds in summer. |
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Aloe thraskii (Dune Aloe) Grows in zones 8, 9, and 12-24. Treelike, topped with arching, recurved leaves that mimic Palm Trees. Leaves are fleshy and grey-green, and yellow-orange flowers bloom in winter. Gets to 10 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide. Best when planted in coastal gardens. |
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Aloe veriegata (Partridge-Breast Aloe, Tiger Aloe) This species forms a foot-tall tight rosette of triangular dark green leaves that are banded and edged with white. Clusters of pink to dull red blooms appear in late winter to early springtime. They do best with some shade, and can be grown as a houseplant. |
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Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) (Medicinal Aloe, Barbados Aloe) This species grows best in zones 8, 9, 12-24, H1 and H2 and forms clustering rosettes of narrow, upright leaves 1-2 feet in length. A dense spike of yellow flowers appears in spring and summer. Can be used to treat burns, bites, and inflammation. Survives without extra water, but looks better when given ample water. |
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Caring for Aloe
Aloe can be grown in the ground, but it is very commonly grown in pots or containers, as well, and can do well indoors or outdoors as long as it gets the right soil, watering and light conditions. Aloe will usually not flower indoors, so if you'd like this added aesthetic bonus, grow your Aloe outside. Aloe loves well-draining soil and full sun. Choose a spot in your yard that will get 4-6 hours of sun daily. Too much direct sun can burn the leaves of Aloe, so monitor your plant after placing it in your garden to ensure it is not too exposed. If it is, the leaves will turn a bronze color.
Next, amend the soil (if necessary) to ensure great drainage is available for your plant. Aloe plants can grow in gravel and sand, and prefer a soil that has a pH of 7.0 to 8.5, though they can adapt to other soil acidities relatively well. Plant your Aloes about 2-3 feet apart, and the same distance away from other plants. Dig a hole the same size as the container your Aloe is in, remove it from the pot, and set it in the hole, backfilling as necessary. Water your plant thoroughly, and continue to provide water once the top inch of soil has dried out. Once you see new leaves sprouting, you can lessen waterings to about once every two or three weeks. Once winter rolls around, lessen water to once every 4-6 weeks.
Aloe does not need to be fertilized, though if you notice your plant is fading and have accounted for the regular issues (watering, sun exposure, and pests/diseases), your plant may benefit from a very diluted fertilizer every 6-12 months. Aloe actually tolerates poor soil better than rich soil. The best fertilizer to use for Aloe is one for cacti, diluted to about half strength to avoid over-fertilizing. Aloes do not need to be pruned unless leaves are damaged or dying.
Next, amend the soil (if necessary) to ensure great drainage is available for your plant. Aloe plants can grow in gravel and sand, and prefer a soil that has a pH of 7.0 to 8.5, though they can adapt to other soil acidities relatively well. Plant your Aloes about 2-3 feet apart, and the same distance away from other plants. Dig a hole the same size as the container your Aloe is in, remove it from the pot, and set it in the hole, backfilling as necessary. Water your plant thoroughly, and continue to provide water once the top inch of soil has dried out. Once you see new leaves sprouting, you can lessen waterings to about once every two or three weeks. Once winter rolls around, lessen water to once every 4-6 weeks.
Aloe does not need to be fertilized, though if you notice your plant is fading and have accounted for the regular issues (watering, sun exposure, and pests/diseases), your plant may benefit from a very diluted fertilizer every 6-12 months. Aloe actually tolerates poor soil better than rich soil. The best fertilizer to use for Aloe is one for cacti, diluted to about half strength to avoid over-fertilizing. Aloes do not need to be pruned unless leaves are damaged or dying.
Propagation
Problems and Pests
Aloe plants are relatively easy to care for, and do not have many issues except the following:
- Aphids
- Aloe Gall Mites
- Bacterial Soft Rot
- Basal Stem Rot
Gallery
Aloe is related to Red-Hot Poker Plant (they are both members of the family Asphodelaceae). You can see the similarities in the photos above.
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Aloes can be great as structural background for other plants, and their flowers will provide color and interest to the backs of planting beds.
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Videos
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All about aloes.
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How to grow Aloe in containers.
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How to avoid common mistakes when growing Aloe.
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How to propagate Aloe via leaf cuttings.
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Resources
7 Amazing Uses for Aloe Vera
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 145-146, Aloe
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