Scientific Name:
Aloe vera
Pronunciation:
AL-oh VEER-uh
Common Name:
healing plant
Family Name:
Asphodelaceae
Plant Type:
Indoor foliage plant, Succulent or Cacti
Key ID Features:
Leaves basal to spiraled, lanceolate, most 20-45cm long x 2-6cm wide x 1-3cm thick, sword-like, fleshy (clear gel inside), margin toothed (soft spines); flowers tubular with 6 tepals on long racemes.
Habit:
Open, Stiffly upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
0.4 - 0.7m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 10: (-1 to 4 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Indoor plant, Medicinal plant (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown include A. 'Barbadensis' (glaucous). Note: there are hundreds of species of Aloe and several may appear very similar to A. vera.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate, Spiraled, Basal
Texture/Venation:
Succulent
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Glaucous
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Acute, Aristate
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Dentate, Spinose
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Tubular
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Orange, Yellow, Red
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Can flower any month
Additional Info:
6 tepals
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant, May not form locally
Bark or Stem Colour:
n/a
Organ Modifications:
Runners (or stolons), Succulent leaves
Propagation:
Division - below ground parts
Optimal Temp.:
Medium
Light Level:
High
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids, Mealybugs, Mites, Root rot, Scale insects (Disease resistant, Drought tolerant)
