Aloe vera, commonly grown as a houseplant, is known for its leaves which contain a soothing gel used on sunburns and other skin irritations. With over 300 species (the most common being Aloe barbadensis miller), this tropical succulent features fleshy lance-shape leaves with jagged edges that grow out from a basal rosette. Given the right growing conditions, spiky flowers will appear on the end of stalks in shades of yellow, red, or orange. Young plants don’t generally flower, and aloe grown as a houseplant can take years to produce flower stalks. Still, this fast-growing succulent will reach its mature size in three to four years and produces pups that can be repotted or given as gifts to other plant lovers. No green thumb is required.
Consuming the leaves is toxic for people.1 The leaves are also toxic to dogs and cats.2
Aloe Vera Care
Aloe vera needs sandy soil or a cactus potting medium to thrive in containers. When grown outdoors in zones 10 through 12, plant this succulent next to others with similar needs. Blend aloe into a xeriscaped border planting, or make it an entryway focal point by potting it on its own. Potted aloe looks nice on decks and patios where it also comes in handy for use on emergency burns and bites. Outdoors, blooming may occur in late spring or early summer; blooms generally don’t appear on potted indoor specimens. Either way, the plant needs to be very mature in order to bloom at all and, even still, may not bloom every year, especially if the leaves are being harvested for use. Aloe requires little watering and virtually no fertilizing, making it an easy-care houseplant for beginner gardeners.