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!

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

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

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