Aloe Vera Plant
The aloe vera plant is also known as the 'miracle plant'. It has a long history in medicinal and holistic medicine.
History of the Aloe Plant
The aloe plant has long been used as a herbal remedy for a variety of issues. There are notations that Cleopatra used aloe in Egyptian times. The plant has survived for centuries, and grows in zones 8-11. It will not tolerate frost or snow.
It is a succulant and can go without water for many months. Its native setting is dry sunny and in sandy soil. It does not like a heavy soil, and enjoys drying out between watering.
You can tell if your aloe needs water by the color of its leaves. If it is beginning to look pale, it needs a drink.
The aloe plant has been used in herbal medicine and as an ingredient for herbal remedies for 1000's of years. There has not been as much study on this plant as there should have been, and clinical studies are hard to find.
The reason is that there is nothing to be gained by big precription drug companies.
Aloe Vera Cultivation
Aloe is cultivated in parts of the USA and further south, there are large aloe vera farms in the Dominican Republic too. The plant is also cultivated in Africa and other tropical countries.
As far as a cultivated crop goes, aloe is a perennial. So it will continue to produce beautiful aloe vera stalks year after year once it is established. The plant is not fully mature for commercial harvest for about 5 years. The stalks are huge (up to 3 feet) when mature and the plant also flowers with a tall flower spike with yellowish pink flowers.
The aloe vera gel is harvested from the leaf by hand in most instances and this is an important crop.
As a house plant, aloe vera is easy to grow and requires little maintenance, and your thumb doesn't have to be too green.
It is great to have a pot of aloe vera on your kitchen counter or in your living room.
There are over 400 species of aloe vera plants, not all are used for medicinal purposes - there are many ornamental varieties of this plant used for a variety of purposes. Aloe species are widely used in landscape applications in planting zones that are compatable with the requirements of the particular type of aloe.
There are mini aloe vera plants that are used in terraniums and indoor plant arrangements that are 'darling' and very easy to care for. You can pick these up at an indoor plant nursery for just a few dollars.
Here are just a few of the different species of aloe, and their individual and unique properties.
Types of Aloe Plants
Popular Aloe Species
- Aloe Jucunda
- Aloe Thraskii
- Aloe Ciliaris
- Aloe Hybrids
- Aloe Gariepensis
- Aloe Harlana
- Aloe Nobilis
- Aloe Marlothil
- Aloe Veriegata
- Aloe Aristata
- Aloe Arborescens
- Aloe Sucotrina
- Alor Vera Babadensis
There is even an Aloe Tree which is amazing if you are interested in different aloe species. It was even featured on a stamp in the early 1900's. A specatucular tropical for dry regions.
We have lots of articles about the aloe vera plant, so just choose a topic and read on.
More Aloe Vera Information
Growing Aloe At Home
Aloe Plant Care Tips
Aloe Vera Seeds
Return from Aloe Vera Plant to Aloe Vera Juice Benefits
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