0.80 m
Evergreen Perennial
Slow
Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild
Aloe vera is a succulent, evergreen perennial herb that can be stemless or with a short stem up to 30cm long; it can produce a flowering stem up to 160cm tall.
Freely suckering, it produces dense rosettes of 16 - 20 long pointed leaves from shortly branched creeping rhizomes.
The plant is a very popular herbal medicine with a history of use dating back to at least 400 BC. It is widely cultivated in warm temperate to tropical regions as a medicinal plant and ingredient in skincare products. It is also commonly grown ornamentally and as a pot plant in cooler regions.
Aloe vera is widely used as a herbal remedy. While the leaf gel is entirely safe, the bitter aloes found at the base of the leaves contain anthraquinones which can have potential problems if used in excess. Side effects may include congestion and irritation of pelvic organs. Anthraquinone laxatives may also have genotoxic and tumorigenic potential.
Maritime sands and rocks.
Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild
Aloe vera can be grown outdoors from the warm temperate zone to the tropics. It grows best where daytime temperatures range from 19°C to 27°C, but can tolerate 10°C to 35°C.
It can withstand occasional light frosts down to -3°C if conditions are dry.
It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 1,900 - 3,000mm, but can tolerate 700 - 4,000mm.
During subtropical winters, the plant becomes dormant and requires little moisture.
A sunny position is preferred, but it can tolerate light shade.
It thrives in well-drained sandy or loamy soils, tolerating poor soils and some salinity.
A pH range of 6.5 - 7.5 is optimal, but it can tolerate 6 - 8.
Established plants are drought-tolerant despite shallow roots.
Leaves - cooked. Very bitter, they are used as emergency food only.
Gel in the leaves is sometimes used in commercial jellies, drinks, and ice cream.
Leaf gel is used as a food supplement to aid digestion and improve circulation and organ functions.
Aloe vera gel is widely used in herbal practice for burns and skin disorders due to its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.
Major constituents include polysaccharides (mainly acemannan), lectins, sterols, and enzymes.
Aloe vera has shown immune-stimulating, anticancer, and antiviral effects.
Topical application of gel facilitates wound healing and soothes burns.
It has been studied for benefits in psoriasis and as an adjunct therapy in cancer.
The bitter exudate contains anthraquinones like aloin, which is a strong laxative and also shows antihistamine and anti-inflammatory activities.
None Recorded
Leaf extracts are used in cosmetics and as a food coating to extend shelf life.
Gel powder is used in concrete to enhance steel resistance against corrosion.
Aloe vera plants are grown indoors to purify air, releasing oxygen at night.
Seed - sow in lightly shaded seed trays at around 16°C. Germination can take 1 - 6 months.
Divide offsets when available; they root easily when planted in warm conditions.
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