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Growing up, my parents would have an aloe vera plant just outside of our backyard door. My siblings, parents, and I would break parts of the plant off if we ended up with burns, cuts, and bruises because of the aloe’s healing powers. Today I want to talk more about the amiable aloe vera plant.
There are a variety of aloe veras available to grow. You can add them to your succulent garden or landscape. Aloe vera plants also have several medicinal uses as well.
Ancient History
Aloe vera plants have been around for a very long time and were used by ancient Egyptians and Chinese due to its many benefits. Alexander the Great supposedly took over Socotra, an island near Africa, due to its abundance of aloe vera. Cleopatra used aloe vera for her skin.
There are a few hundred types of aloe vera plants, also called barbadensis Miller. Aloe veras take 3 to 4 years to mature to their full state. They can grow up to 30 inches tall with up to 21 leaves.
Fun Facts
Here are some fun facts about the amiable aloe vera plant:
- Aloe vera plants have been around for thousands of years.
- There are over several hundred types of aloe vera plants.
- Several famous people in history were known to use aloe vera due to its medicinal and health benefits.
- Aloe vera uses can come directly from the plant or bought in a gel form.
- These succulents can grow well indoors and outside.
- Aloe veras are considered very popular succulents.
- Aloe veras come in a variety of sizes and colors, not just the popular green color.
Do you love succulents? Read up on some varieties here at An Urban Oasis: Types of Succulent Plants and Desert Rose: Echeveria Varieties.
Aloe Vera Plant Types
As stated above, there are several hundred different types of aloe vera plants, making them very popular succulents. Below are some popular ones that can be found locally (Southern California) and elsewhere.
Aloe Vera “Medicine Plant”-These small aloes are great for containers and commonly used for medicinal purposes. Enjoy the spiky leaves from your garden or keep close to use for burns and other cooling effects. These are the most common ones that I’ve seen to grow and use for medicinal purposes.
Aloe “Blue Elf” – This small aloe has a green-blue color and thin, spiky leaves. These get up to two feet tall and two feet wide, based on how much space they have to grow. The beautiful orange flowers they produce are well liked by hummingbirds.
Aloe “Sunset” – These spiky aloes start out a light-green color, becoming brown-red with spots as they get older. Red or yellow flowers grow above the spikes.
Aloe Arborescens – This type of aloe plant is also named the “candelabra aloe”. These grow up to 10 feet and can be as large as trees. Large red-orange flowers grow in the center of the leaves, making this aloe look unique compared to others.
Aloe Aristata – These aloe vera plants are also known as “lace aloe”. The aloe aristata looks similar to the haworthia plant, due to its green coloring and white patterned leaves. These plants are known for its healing uses in Ayurveda.
Aloe Striata – This smaller type of aloe is also called “coral aloe” due to the pink coloring that can be seen on its leaves. This is a popular type of aloe with many gardeners. Aloe striata are known to help with digestion.
Uses for the Aloe Vera Plant
There are a variety of medicinal uses to aloe vera plants. Below are a few aloe vera plant benefits:
- contributes to having a healthy immune system
- keeps skin hydrated and moist
- help the body absorb nutrients
- increase toxins that can hurt the body
- lessen joint and muscle pain
- soothe minor cuts and burns
- helps stomach acids to balance in the body in a natural way
It’s very common for people to grow and maintain aloe vera plants to use for minor cuts and burns. Many stores sell aloe vera in gel form for this very reason. Aloe vera gel feels great on sunburned skin too!
These are just a few aloe vera plant uses. Try some and see how they work for you.
Aloe Vera Plant Care
These succulent plants make great plants in landscape gardens and container gardens. Since I’m all about urban gardening in small spaces, I will focus on caring for aloe veras in a container.
Place your aloe vera plant in a container that is at least slightly larger than the plant, to give it room to grow. If your container doesn’t have a hole at the bottom, drill one or more holes. You don’t want water sitting at the base of the pot since this can rot the roots and ultimately kill your aloe vera.
Grow the aloe vera in a potting mix that is designed to drain well. Get a succulent potting mix or make your own for great results.
Aloe vera plants are great plants for hot areas since they need little water to survive. Water your aloe vera at least once every few weeks.
You can fertilize aloe vera but only do it once a month. You can use a fertilizer for houseplants since many people keep aloe veras inside to use.
Aloe Vera Plant
If you don’t have an aloe vera plant in your garden, I highly recommend you get one. They are easy to care for and have multiple purposes. Let me know your thoughts below.
Happy Gardening!
Gabriella says
I love aloe vera! My grandparents always kept a plant in their place. I use the plant to make hair growth serum and I knew it helped with burns. But I didn’t know all of the healthy benefits. Thanks for sharing!
Ann says
You are welcome! I didn’t know it could be used for hair growth so I just learned something new! Aloe vera is such a great plant to have around for a variety of health benefits. Thank you for your comment!
Lisa says
Hi Ann!
After reading this, I’m going to water my Aloe plant every two weeks… and speak to it because I believe in positive reinforcement! It’s not completely dead, but its been in drought for 2 years.
Ann says
Hi Lisa! The more I ignore my succulents when it comes to watering them, the happier they are. I hope your aloe gets revived! I heard talking to plants helps too! Thanks for stopping by!
Kids of the Wild says
Some fascinating facts here, thanks for sharing. I first discovered Aloe Vera in Florida about 25 years ago when a hotel owner used a leaf directly on the horribly burnt skin of an unfortunate tourist – not me I hasten to add!! I’ve grown it at home and used an organic lotion as aftersun ever since.
Ann says
Nice! One of the local supermarkets sells huge leaves in the fruit and veggie section. I’ve used aloe veras for burns, as well as aftersun lotions. It works great! Thanks for stopping by!