About

Aloe vera, the Barbados aloe, is the most widely cultivated and recognisable of all the aloes, forming rosettes of fleshy, narrow, dull green leaves with serrated, spiny margins. Long, erect spikes up to 90 cm tall carry narrowly tubular, greenish-yellow flowers 3 cm long in summer. The clear gel contained within the leaves has been used for thousands of years to soothe burns and skin irritation, and aloe vera products are among the most commercially important botanical extracts in the world.

About the genus

Aloe are evergreen succulent perennials, ranging from compact mat-forming species to tall, tree-like plants, all producing rosettes of thick, fleshy, often toothed leaves and tubular flowers in racemes or panicles. Native mainly to Africa and Madagascar, they range from compact mat-forming species to large tree aloes. Most require a sunny, dry position and frost-free conditions.

Growing conditions

Plant details

Care notes