Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a succulent which enables the species to survive in areas of low natural rainfall, making it ideal for rockeries and other low water-use gardens. Great in pots! Aloe vera’s use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egypt, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the “plant of immortality,” aloe was presented as a funeral gift to pharaohs.
Harvesting: Aloe produces two substances, gel and latex, which are used for medicines. Aloe gel is the clear, jelly-like substance found in the inner part of the aloe plant leaf. Aloe latex comes from just under the plant's skin and is yellow in color. To harvest cut off large mature leaves at their base, close to the stem. For gel, cut the skin off the leaves like filleting a fish until the clear translucent flesh is exposed. For latex use the skin.
Soil: Tolerates most conditions including sandy soils. Needs to be well drained.
Medicinal Properties: The plant is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of many countries. Aloe gel from the center of the leaves is primarily used topically as a remedy for skin conditions such as burns, frostbite, psoriasis, and cold sores, but it may also be taken orally for conditions including osteoarthritis, bowel diseases, and fever. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that oral administration of aloe gel might be effective in reducing blood glucose in diabetic patients and in lowering blood lipid levels in hyperlipidemia. Aloe latex from the Aloe skin is a strong laxative when taken orally. Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects. Oral ingestion of aloe vera, however, may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea which in turn can decrease the absorption of drugs. Medical News Today (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265800.php) discusses many scientific studies of Aloe vera.
Propagation: ‘Pups’ or baby plants grow from the sides of the ‘mother’. These can be separated and potted.
Sun: Full to light shade.
Size: 24 to 40” tall
Water: Tolerant of drought. Allow soil to dry completely before watering.
Fertilize: Can tolerate poor soils because it forms a symbiosis with fungi in the soil to better access to mineral nutrients, but for bigger plants add organic fertilizers.
Soil: well drained.
Cold: Intolerant of frost.
Pests: resistant to most.
Hardy in zones 8-11
Aloe vera is a succulent which enables the species to survive in areas of low natural rainfall, making it ideal for rockeries and other low water-use gardens. Great in pots! Aloe vera’s use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egypt, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the “plant of immortality,” aloe was presented as a funeral gift to pharaohs.
Harvesting: Aloe produces two substances, gel and latex, which are used for medicines. Aloe gel is the clear, jelly-like substance found in the inner part of the aloe plant leaf. Aloe latex comes from just under the plant's skin and is yellow in color. To harvest cut off large mature leaves at their base, close to the stem. For gel, cut the skin off the leaves like filleting a fish until the clear translucent flesh is exposed. For latex use the skin.
Soil: Tolerates most conditions including sandy soils. Needs to be well drained.
Medicinal Properties: The plant is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of many countries. Aloe gel from the center of the leaves is primarily used topically as a remedy for skin conditions such as burns, frostbite, psoriasis, and cold sores, but it may also be taken orally for conditions including osteoarthritis, bowel diseases, and fever. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that oral administration of aloe gel might be effective in reducing blood glucose in diabetic patients and in lowering blood lipid levels in hyperlipidemia. Aloe latex from the Aloe skin is a strong laxative when taken orally. Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects. Oral ingestion of aloe vera, however, may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea which in turn can decrease the absorption of drugs. Medical News Today (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265800.php) discusses many scientific studies of Aloe vera.
Propagation: ‘Pups’ or baby plants grow from the sides of the ‘mother’. These can be separated and potted.
Sun: Full to light shade.
Size: 24 to 40” tall
Water: Tolerant of drought. Allow soil to dry completely before watering.
Fertilize: Can tolerate poor soils because it forms a symbiosis with fungi in the soil to better access to mineral nutrients, but for bigger plants add organic fertilizers.
Soil: well drained.
Cold: Intolerant of frost.
Pests: resistant to most.
Hardy in zones 8-11