Aloe vera (formerly known as barbadensis) is a yellow-flowered plant with mostly unspotted adult leaves. Its medicinal application involves topical use of the gel for skin-related ailments. The flowers (always yellow) are ventricose, meaning they have a little belly on the underside, a distinguishing feature. Aloe vera does not produce viable seeds, another distinguishing feature, and thus can only be grown true from offsets.

The Arabian aloe formerly known as Aloe vera chinensis (which makes viable seed) is likely Aloe officinalis or eumassawana. These plants make generally unbranched inflorescences. They can be distinguished by spotted leaves on adults, generally smaller proportions, orange or coral flowers (usually), and distinct medicinal usage. More about Aloe vera and medicinal aloes in this fascinating article, as well as the books Aloes: The Definitive Guide (2011) and The Aloes of Arabia (2019).

Many aloes are misidentified and mislabeled as Aloe vera. There are about 500 other species of Aloe, each with its own appearance and uses.

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Aloe grows well outside for those who live in consistently dry, sunny and sandy soil conditions. For the rest of us it is a houseplant. For centuries it has been used as a medicinal plant. The fresh juice squeezed from a broken aloe leaf provides instant relief for minor burns and wounds. You can find aloe in many lotions, creams, salves, shampoos and various other pharmaceutical products. It is also used in the medical world as a salve for the treatment of radiation burns.

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Wonderful plant to grow with children. They will be intrigued by the smooth, fleshy leaves, and thankful for the soothing properties if they get burned. The juice should be used with adult supervision! This plant multiplies rapidly, so it is a good plant for sharing. A teacher friend of mine gives a start to each of her students every single year, teaching them about repotting plants and caring for them. By the following spring, her plant has reproduced enough to provide starts for her next classroom full. She gave me a start two years ago, and it has multiplied happily in a pot on my enclosed porch.

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