Aloe (Aloe spp.)

Aloe Plant Features

Aloes are good indoor plants if you're busy and have a bright spot in your home. These houseplants have a bold texture that works particularly well with modern and contemporary decorating schemes, but they also fit in well if your tastes run more Mediterranean, eclectic, or exotic.

While aloes are traditionally thought of for their foliage when grown as indoor plants, they can bloom with tall stems of brightly colored flowers if they get enough light.

Aloe vera is the most common type of aloe, but there are plenty of other varieties available. Many have variegated foliage, which adds to their visual appeal.

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Aloe Growing Instructions

True succulents, aloes like to be kept dry -- they may only need watering once every couple of weeks or so, depending on conditions such as pot size, light, and temperature. Grow aloe in a bright spot for best results; the more light, the better these houseplants do.

Fertilize aloe a few times a year in spring and summer to keep it happiest. You can use any general-purpose fertilizer labeled for use on houseplants. Follow the directions on the fertilizer packaging for recommendations on how much to use.

Aloes typically don't require pruning except to remove old leaves as they fade.

Note: Aloe is not intended for human or animal consumption.

Water

Low water needs
Light

Indoors: High light

Outside: Sun
Colors

Green

Variegated
Special Features

Super-easy to grow

Complement your Aloe

Desert Rose
Dress up aloe's foliage by pairing it with a flowering desert rose.

Succulents
Aloe naturally grows well with most other succulents. You can find varieties to accent aloe's texture or contrast it.

Agave
Agave and aloe look great together and love the same growing conditions. It's a perfect pairing.

Our favorite varieties

Lace Aloe

Aloe aristata

Showing off rich green leaves marked with white streaks, it's a smaller and slow-growing variety that's particularly well suited to being a low-water houseplant.

Doran Black Aloe

Aloe 'Doran Black'

A gorgeous aloe that has gray-green leaves flecked with dark green, Doran Black is a slow-growing type that makes for a good houseplant in brightly lit spots.

Tiger Tooth Aloe

Aloe juvenna

Showing off bright green leaves with white speckles, this slow-growing aloe is an exotic houseplant if you have a bright spot indoors. Or grow it outside in containers!

Flow Aloe

Gasteraloe 'Flow'

A fun hybrid between an aloe and gasteria, this easy-to-grow plant thrives indoors or out in a bright spot. It features dark green leaves speckled in white.

Aloe Vera

Aloe barbadensis

Often grown for the soothing gel in its leaves, aloe vera grows has gray-green toothed leaves and thrives in a bright place indoors or out. It's a perennial outdoors in Zone 10.

Bright Star Aloe

Aloe 'Bright Star'

A dwarf variety, Bright Star aloe features gray-green leaves edged in pinkish-red in full sun. It grows about 6 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Cha Cha Aloe

Aloe 'Cha Cha'

Cha Cha is a lovely aloe that features silvery-green leaves and white speckles. It grows 6-12 inches tall and wide. Zone 10

Christmas Carol Aloe

Aloe 'Christmas Carol'

Christmas Carol aloe is a showstopper that bears gray-green leaves edged in reddish orange. It grows 6-10 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Minibelle Aloe

Aloe 'Minibelle'

Minibelle aloe is a dwarf variety that shows off light green leaves speckled in white. It grows 10 inches tall and 16 inches wide. Zones 10-11

Gold Tooth Aloe

Aloe nobilis

Gold Tooth aloe brings rich green color to sunny container gardens, beds and borders, and bright window sills. It grows 16 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Sunrise Aloe

Aloe 'Sunrise'

Sunrise is a colorful aloe that shows off gray-green leaves decorated with orange-red spots when grown in full sun. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11 outdoors.

Walmsley's Variegated Aloe

Aloe 'Walmsley's Variegated'

Walmsley's Variegated aloe features dark green leaves variegated with streaks of cream and light green. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Climbing Aloe

Aloiampelos ciliaris

Also commonly sold as Aloe ciliaris, climbing aloe features jagged, mid-green leaves and clusters of orange-yellow flowers. Its common name comes from the fact that it grows vertically and can weave its way up into shrubs or against trees. It can grow 10 feet or more outdoors in frost-free areas. Zones 10-11

Fang Aloe

Aloe 'Fang'

Fang aloe is a delightful hybrid with textural gray-green foliage edged in coral-orange. When happy, it produces clusters of orange-red flowers. Zones 9-11

Green Sand Aloe

Aloe 'Green Sand'

Named for its highly textured leaves, 'Green Sand' aloe features gray green leaves marked with raised creamy spots (tubercles). In high light, it takes on more orange/red tones. In good growing conditions, it blooms with orange flowers. It grows 8 inches tall and 6 inches wide. Zones 10-11

Pink Blush Aloe

Aloe 'Pink Blush'

Pink Blush aloe is a dwarf variety that features gray-green foliage variegated with streask of dark green. The leaf edges bear pink ridges. When happy, Pink Blush aloe offers spikes of orange flowers. It grows 10 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

White Lightning Aloe

Aloe 'White Lightning'

Featuring light green leaves variegated with creamy tubercles, White Lightning is a delightful low-water succulent for bright desks and window sills. When happy, it bars orangey blooms and stays about 10 inches tall and wide.