Aloe vera var. officinalis L., Burm.f.

Common name(s): Aloe vera, Medicinal Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Plant, Curacao Aloe, True Aloe

Family: Asphodelaceae (Aloeaceae, Liliaceae) Subfamily: Asphodeloideae Synonym(s): Aloe barbadensis Mill., Aloe officinalis, Aloe perfoliata var. vera L., Aloe chinensis Haw., Baker, Aloe barbadensis var. chinensis Haw., Aloe indic Royle, Aloe flave Pers., Aloe lanzae Tod., Aloe maculata Forssk., illeg., Aloe perfliata var. vera L., Aloe rubescens DC, Aloe variegata Forssk. illeg.,Aloe vera var. chinensis Haw., A Berger, Aloe vera var. lanzae Baker, Aloe vera var. littoralis J. Koenig ex Baker, Aloe vulgaris Lam.
Print
Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington
Expand all
Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties
Origin(s)
Yemen
  • Yemen: Indigenous
Algeria
  • Algeria: Indigenous
Egypt
  • Egypt: Indigenous
Morocco
  • Morocco: Indigenous
San Marino
  • San Marino: Indigenous
Spain
  • Canary Is.: Indigenous
Tunisia
  • Tunisia: Indigenous
Plant Type
Deciduous Succulent, Evergreen, Perennial
Deciduous Succulent,
Evergreen,
Perennial
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Arid-Semi / Steppe, Oceanic, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean
Arid-Semi / Steppe,
Oceanic,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Sun - Afternoon, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Sun - Afternoon,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Desert Vegetation
Desert Vegetation
Habitat Zone(s)
Dry Valley Slopes, Exposed Stony embankments, Garden, Hill Sides, Landscape, Open areas, Ridges, Road sides, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Waste Land / Disturbed Sites, Well drained
Dry Valley Slopes,
Exposed Stony embankments,
Garden,
Hill Sides,
Landscape,
Open areas,
Ridges,
Road sides,
Rock crevices,
Rocky,
Sandy Dry,
Sandy Moist,
Waste Land / Disturbed Sites,
Well drained
Mature Height
600-700mm, 700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900mm-1m
600-700mm,
700-800mm,
800-900mm,
900mm-1m
Mature Width
150-200mm
150-200mm
Plant Shape
Rosette
Rosette
Rosette Rosette
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Life Span
10-15yrs, 15-30yrs
10-15yrs,
15-30yrs
Leaf Properties
Leaf Colour (front)
Blue-green Variegated, Green Light, White Variegated, Yellow-green
Blue-green Variegated,
Green Light,
White Variegated,
Yellow-green
Leaf Colour (back)
Green Light, Yellow-green
Green Light,
Yellow-green
Leaf Shape(s)
Deltoid
Deltoid
Lanceolate
Lanceolate
Deltoid Deltoid,
Lanceolate Lanceolate
Leaf Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Waxy Waxy
Fleshy
Fleshy
Leaf Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Waxy Waxy
Fleshy
Fleshy
Leaf Length(s)
175-200mm, 200-250mm, 250-300mm, 300-400mm, 400-500mm
175-200mm,
200-250mm,
250-300mm,
300-400mm,
400-500mm
Leaf Width(s)
30-40mm, 40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm
30-40mm,
40-50mm,
50-60mm,
60-70mm
Leaf Margin(s)
Toothed
Toothed
Toothed Toothed
Leaf Arrangement
Rosette
Rosette
Whorled
Whorled
Rosette Rosette,
Whorled Whorled
Leaf Cross Section(s)
Incurved
Incurved
Incurved Incurved
Apice(s)
Acuminate Narrow
Acuminate Narrow
Acuminate Narrow Acuminate Narrow
Base(s)
Truncate
Truncate
Truncate Truncate
Leaf Aroma
None
None
Leaf Attachment
Sessile
Sessile
Sessile Sessile
Trunk / Stem Properties
Trunk / Stem Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Winter
Winter
Flowering Time (end)
Spring
Spring
Colour(s)
Red-orange, Yellow Tipped, Pink-orange
Red-orange,
Yellow Tipped,
Pink-orange
Aroma(s)
None
None
Flower Shape(s)
Tubulate
Tubulate
Tubulate Tubulate
Flower Size(s) Width
25-30mm
25-30mm
Arrangement(s)
Spike
Spike
Raceme
Raceme
Spike Spike,
Raceme Raceme
Arrangement Size(s)
600-700mm, 700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900-1000mm
600-700mm,
700-800mm,
800-900mm,
900-1000mm
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Bees,
Birds,
Butterflies
Stamen Length
20-25mm
20-25mm
Stamen Colour(s)
Yellow
Yellow
Petal Number
6
Stamen Number
6
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Capsule Septicidal
Capsule Septicidal
Capsule Septicidal Capsule Septicidal
Shape(s)
Ellipsoid
Ellipsoid
Ellipsoid Ellipsoid
Outer Colour(s)
Brown, Brown Light
Brown,
Brown Light
Outer Texture
Papery
Papery
Length
10-15mm
10-15mm
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Fibrous
Fibrous
Fibrous Fibrous
Texture
Fibrous , Pliable , Stringy
Fibrous,
Pliable,
Stringy
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony, Hummus Rich
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Stony,
Hummus Rich
pH Range(s)
Slightly Acid, Neutral
Slightly Acid,
Neutral
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
Nectar
Nectar
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
Leaves
Leaves
Medicinal Use(s)
Leaves
Leaves
Fire Regeneration(s)
Regrowth, Seed
Regrowth,
Seed
Fire Retarding
Good
Good
Drought Tolerance
Good
Good
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
Light
Light
Smog Tolerant
Good
Good
Landscape Use
Moderate
Moderate
Street Use
None
None
Commercial Use(s)
Horticulture - Amenity, Leaves
Horticulture - Amenity,
Leaves
Maintenance(s)
Dead Heading
Dead Heading
Pests/Diseases
Aphid, Mealy Bug, Root Rot Fungus, Scale
Aphid,
Mealy Bug,
Root Rot Fungus,
Scale
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Border Plant, Garden-Container, Fire Resistant, Fire Retarding, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Medicinal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Xeriscape, Groundcover, Medicinal, Suckering, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's
Garden-Border Plant,
Garden-Container,
Fire Resistant,
Fire Retarding,
Foliage-interesting,
Garden-Cacti,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Cottage,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Desert,
Garden-Indoors,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Medicinal,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Rock,
Garden-Xeriscape,
Groundcover,
Medicinal,
Suckering,
Sunny Dry,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's
Dormancy
Summer
Summer
Humidity Requirements
Low, Medium
Low,
Medium
Vulnerability
LC - Least Concern
LC - Least Concern
Fertilising Requirements
FR6
FR6
Wind Tolerance
Moderate Winds
Moderate Winds
Propagation
Fresh Seed, Offsets
Weed Potential(s)
Australia
  • NSW: Slight
  • NT: Moderate
  • QLD: Strong
  • SA: Slight
  • TAS: None
  • WA: Moderate

General Notes

A. vera has been cultivated for hundreds of years around the world for its medicinal and cosmetic uses.

There are several cultivars available.

Propagation Notes

Expand all
Offsets
Flowering
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Division
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Material Preparation

Being careful of the spiny teeth, select offsets that are formed well. With a sharp knife, slice down the side of the stem of the mother plant to remove the offset with any possible roots attached. Remove lower leaves to expose approximately 20 - 25mm of stem. Place to one side and allow the wound to callous for 2 - 4 days.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Soil + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Fill the pot with mix. Using a dibber make a hole in the middle of the pot of mix a little larger than the stem. Place the offest into the pot of mix being careful of the spines. The offset should stand firm and be approximately 25 - 50mm into the mix. Water the mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide.  Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:-     Field Stock        75-95 %

                        Nursery Stock   90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock        4 - 8 weeks

                        Nursery Stock  4 - 8 weeks

Fresh Seed
Flowering
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Seed Collecting
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Sowing
Sep, Oct, Nov
Material Preparation

Collect the capsules as they are starting to dry out. Place in a paper bag to dry out thoroughly for 1 - 2 weeks. Rub the capsules between gloved hands to remove any seed that hasn't fallen out. Clean and store in a cool dark place. Sow as soon as ripe for best results.

Viability:-      6 - 12 mths  

Seeds/gram:- 

Propagating Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Fill seedling tray BUT do not firm down. Sow seed, approximately 10mm apart, cover lightly with mix, then a thin sprinkle of fine 2 - 3 mm gravel, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in a hot house. Keep moist but not too wet. Maintain hot house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 25-34° C, with bright indirect sunlight.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:-   3 - 4 weeks

Pricking out:-             8 - 10 weeks after germination (2 - 3 leaf stage)

Tube Mix:-                 1 part Premium Potting Mix  + 1 part coarse washed Sand