Aloe Vera
Aloe barbadensis miller
Thick, gel-filled leaves in a tight rosette — kept dry and warm it lasts for years, kept damp and cold it turns to mush.
Light Bright indirect light, with some direct sun indoors tolerated.
Water Water it deeply, then let it dry out completely.
Height 50 cm
Spread 15.7 in
Spacing 40 cm
Spacing & sowing
- Plant spacing
- 15.7 in
- In-row spacing
- 15.7 in
- Between rows
- 19.7 in
- Square-foot density
- Not suited to SFG
Growing
- Type
- Shrub · Perennial
- Botanical family
- Mixed / other
- Sunlight
- Bright indirect light, with some direct sun indoors tolerated.
- Watering
- Water it deeply, then let it dry out completely.
- Feeding
- One or two light feeds across the growing season.
- Frost tolerant
- Yes
- Flowering
- May
- Pruning
- Take off the dead outer leaves and any spent flower stalk.
Through the year
- Mar–May Spring Growth
- May–Oct Flowering
- Oct–Nov Growing
- Nov–Dec Dormancy
- Jan–Mar Dormancy
Pests & problems
- Root & crown rot Root rot from overwatering, the commonest way to lose one
- Aloe mites, which raise gall-like growths on the leaves
- Soft, mushy leaves after cold damage
The Cottage Garden Companion — the gardener's herbarium at cottagegardencompanion.com