Aloe vera

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Aloe vera plant with flower detail inset.


Plant Characteristics
Habit   cacti-succulent

Height: ⇕ 80 cm"cm" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 80.
Width: ⇔ 60 cm"cm" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 60. to 120 cm"cm" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 120.
Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Bloom: ❀ early summer, mid summer, late summer
Cultivation
Exposure: ☼ sun, part-sun
Water: ◍ moderate, dry
Features: ✓ flowers, edible, drought tolerant
USDA Zones: 9 to 12
Flower features: ❀ orange, yellow
Scientific Names

Asphodelaceae >

Aloe >

vera >


Aloe vera, also known as the medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in Northern Africa, the Canary islands and Cape Verde. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa and other arid areas. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine.

Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on the upper and lower stem surfaces.[1] The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm in tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.[1][2] Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.[3]


Read about Aloe vera in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Aloe vera, Linn. (A. perfoliala vera, Linn. A. elongata, Murr. A. barbadensis, Mill. A. vulgaris. Lam. A. flava, Pers.). Cespitose, the sts. at length 1-1.5 ft. high: lvs. suberect or spreading, gradually narrowed from the base, pale, 2-3 x 12-20 in., irregularly white-blotched and narrow when young and 2-ranked on offsets, the repand margin with weak pale prickles: infl. 2-3 ft. high, often simple; fls. 1 in. long, yellow, the segms. about equaling the oblong tube. Medit. region and intro. generally through the tropics. —The source of "Barbados aloes." Varies in a large Arabian form with broader lvs., taller infl., and fls. shading into orange, var. officinalis, Baker (A. officinalis, Forsk., A. rubescens, DC.); a smaller Asiatic form with red-tinged fls., var. chinensis (A. indica, Royle. A. chinensis, Baker); and a hardier garden form of this, var. Lanzae, Berger (A. Lanzae, Tod.). CH


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Cultivation

Aloe vera can be grown as an ornamental plant.

Aloe vera has been widely grown as an ornamental plant. The species is popular with modern gardeners as a putatively medicinal plant and due to its interesting flowers, form and succulence. This succulence enables the species to survive in areas of low natural rainfall, making it ideal for rockeries and other low-water use gardens.[1] The species is hardy in zones 8–11, although it is intolerant of very heavy frost or snow.[2][4]

In pots, the species requires well-drained sandy potting soil and bright sunny conditions. The use of a good quality commercial propagation mix or pre-packaged "cacti and succulent mix" is recommended as they allow good drainage.[5] Terracotta pots are preferable as they are porous.[5] Potted plants should be allowed to completely dry prior to re-watering. During winter, A. vera may become dormant, during which little moisture is required. In areas that receive frost or snow the species is best kept indoors or in heated glasshouses.[2]

Propagation

Do you have propagation info on this plant? Edit this section!

Pests and diseases

The species is relatively resistant to most insect pests, though mealy bugs, scale insects and aphid species may cause a decline in plant health.[6][7]

Species

Gallery

  • Some varieties of Aloe vera have no spots.

  • Aloe vera growing on a roadside in Aruba

  • Aloe vera fields

  • Another Aloe vera plant

  • Flowers

  • Flowers

  • Flowers

  • Leaf close up

References

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Yates A. (2002) Yates Garden Guide. Harper Collins Australia
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Random House Australia Botanica's Pocket Gardening Encyclopedia for Australian Gardeners Random House Publishers, Australia
  3. ↑ Gong M, Wang F, Chen Y (January 2002). "[Study on application of arbuscular-mycorrhizas in growing seedings of Aloe vera]" (in Chinese). Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials 25 (1): 1–3. PMID 12583231. 
  4. ↑ "BBC Gardening, Aloe vera". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Coleby-Williams, J. "Fact Sheet: Aloes". Gardening Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
  6. ↑ "Pest Alert: Aloe vera aphid Aloephagus myersi Essi.". Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
  7. ↑ "Kemper Center for Home Gardening: Aloe vera". Missouri Botanic Gardens, USA. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
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