Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) is the succulent worth growing for reasons beyond its looks. It forms a clump about 600mm tall and 800mm across, with thick grey green leaves holding the clear gel that gives the plant its reputation, and it sends up spikes of yellow flowers that honeyeaters find. It needs almost nothing from you: sun, sharp drainage and very little water.

Why you'll love it

• Genuinely low effort. Water every two to three weeks in summer and less in winter. The leaves store their own supply, so a fortnight away changes nothing.
• It multiplies itself. Offsets appear around the base and build a clump, and they lift and pot on easily to spread it through the garden.
• Useful as well as ornamental. The inner leaf gel has been used on minor burns and grazes for centuries, which earns it a spot near the kitchen door.
• Tough in the hardest positions. Heat, drought, coastal salt and poor stony soil are all fine, so it works where irrigation does not reach.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A wide shallow pot at least 300mm across suits the spreading clump, and it can be moved under cover in a frost prone garden.

Rockeries and dry gardens. Set plants about 600mm apart through gravel, stone or a hot sunny bank where drainage is naturally sharp.

Borders and coastal gardens. A low run along a path edge holds its shape without trimming, and salt laden coastal air does not mark the leaves.

Growing Aloe Vera in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the firmest leaves and the best flowering, though it accepts part shade with a looser, greener look. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, arid and Mediterranean gardens. It is frost tender, so cool southern and tableland gardens want it in a pot that can move under cover for winter.

Soil. Sharp drainage is the whole game. Use a cactus and succulent mix in pots, or open a garden bed up with coarse sand and gravel. Heavy clay that stays damp will rot the crown, so plant on a mound if that is what you have.

Water and feed. Soak it, let the mix dry right through, then soak again: roughly every two to three weeks from spring to autumn, and monthly or less in winter. A half strength liquid feed twice over summer is more than enough.

Grooming. No pruning as such. Cut damaged or spent outer leaves off cleanly at the base, and lift crowded offsets every few years to keep the clump open and the centre dry.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tubestock or in 200mm packs of six. Tubes are young single rosettes, often only 100mm across, and take about two years to build a full clump. The 200mm plants are established and can go straight into a decorative pot or a rockery.

Succulents travel better than almost anything else, since the leaves carry their own moisture. Leave yours dry for a week before the first water. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete aloe care guide
• Browse the succulent and cacti range
• Compare plants for rockeries and dry gardens
• Plants that grow well in pots

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Aloe vera is toxic to cats and dogs, and eating the leaf can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. Grow it on a bench, a wall top or somewhere a pet that chews plants cannot reach.

How often should I water it?

Every two to three weeks in the warm months, less in winter, and only once the mix is dry all the way through. Soft, translucent or yellowing leaves mean too much water, not too little.

Will it survive frost?

It is frost tender and a hard frost will damage the leaves badly. Indoors on a bright sunny windowsill is a good winter option in cold districts.