Aloe Vera (Aloaceae)

Native to the Southwestern United States, Aloe Vera is commonly grown in pots in the Eastern U.S. for its medicinal uses. It's an excellent choice for a houseplant, with its size controlled by the pot it’s grown in. Aloe Vera has many uses, including:

• Body rub
• Treating burns
• Salves
• Bruise treatment
• Soothing sunburns
• Insect bites
• Frostbite treatment
• Rashes
• Health drinks
• Ingredient in toothpaste

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11

Plant Characteristics

• Pest Resistance: Excellent
• Disease Resistance: Excellent
• Drought Tolerance: Very Good
• Heat Tolerance: Excellent
• Humidity Tolerance: Excellent
• Sun Tolerance: Fair
• Wet Soil Tolerance: Poor
• Shade Tolerance: Good
• No Spray: Excellent
• Salt Tolerance: Fair
• Thorns: No
• Soil Type: Well-drained
• Edible Type: Stalk
• Self-fertile: Yes

Aloe Vera Care Guide

1. Watering: Water the plant thoroughly, but make sure the soil dries completely between watering. Aloe Vera goes dormant in winter and requires less frequent watering during this period.

2. Light Requirements: Aloe Vera can tolerate strong, bright light once acclimatized but also does well in partial shade. If exposed to direct sunlight too quickly, sunburn or white bleached spots can appear. Varieties like Pink Blush and Dinothere Sunset develop more vivid coloring in full sun, while hybrids like Grassy Lassie change color based on light levels—green in the shade and bronze-orange in full sun.

3. Outdoor Care: Aloe Vera is hardy outdoors in areas without frost (USDA Zones 9-11). In colder climates, it makes an excellent indoor plant when given sufficient light. After spending winter indoors, it can be moved back outside once the frost danger has passed.

4. Soil Requirements: Aloe Vera prefers a well-drained growing medium, with 30% of a draining agent like perlite or pumice to ensure proper drainage.