Thick, toothed leaves full of gel, plus plenty of offsets. It wants the sunniest spot you have – and water only once the soil is completely dry.

What it does for you

Aloe vera is a succulent: it stores a clear gel in its thick leaves¹. People have used it as a medicinal plant for thousands of years – the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Indians and Chinese all knew it². And it's considered one of the easiest plants of all to grow², as long as it gets enough sun³.

Origin & history

True Aloe vera only grows wild in the Hajar Mountains in northern Oman, in deserts and dry scrubland⁵ (older sources say Africa²). Because it is so easy to transplant and has been used medicinally for over 6,000 years, its exact origin was unclear for a long time².

Today it is naturalised in more than 70 countries and regions⁵. The Spanish brought it to South America and the Caribbean².

Caution

The gel is considered edible, but the leaves contain saponins and anthraquinones: cats and dogs may vomit, become lethargic and get diarrhoea⁶. In humans the latex causes stomach cramps and diarrhoea, and it irritates the skin¹. So keep it out of reach of pets and children and wear gloves when repotting⁷.

Care

Light. Full sun, ideally right at a south- or west-facing window (southern hemisphere: north or west)². In shade it doesn't grow well³. In summer it can go outside – get it used to full sun slowly.

Water. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings¹, then water thoroughly². In winter only very sparingly⁷. Constantly wet soil makes the roots rot¹.

Temperature & humidity. Normal room temperature is fine. It can't take frost – ideally keep it above 10 °C; the RHS gives 5–10 °C as its minimum⁷. It dislikes humid air³, so dry, heated air suits it.

Soil, pot & repotting. Peat-free cactus soil⁷ in a pot with a large drainage hole² – clay is ideal¹. As a rule of thumb, repot every two to three years, once the offsets fill the pot.

Feeding. From late spring to late summer once a month with liquid fertiliser⁷.

Extras

Its flowers are borne on stalks up to 90 cm long, with greenish-yellow tubular flowers⁷. For the gel: cut off a mature leaf, slice it open and spread the gel or sap onto a minor burn⁴ or an insect bite².