Family
Asphodelaceae
Description
Aloe vera is a succulent perennial valued worldwide for its fleshy, water-storing leaves and long-standing use in traditional and modern medicine. The upright, spiky rosette produces tubular yellow to orange flowers on tall stalks when mature and grown in bright, warm conditions. Commonly grown as a houseplant or in containers, Aloe vera thrives in sandy, well-drained soils with full sun to part shade and minimal water. It is drought-tolerant and ideal for xeriscaping or windowsill cultivation.
Though widely cultivated and naturalized in arid regions worldwide, Aloe vera is believed to be native to the Arabian Peninsula, with early use and domestication dating back thousands of years in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and India. It does not occur in the wild in its original form but thrives in dry, subtropical environments.
Bloom Time
Intermittent; typically spring to summer (depending on climate)
