Aloe Vera is the most popular kind of aloe plant, but there are several others. Aloe plants have thick, gel-like leaves that cover the majority of the plant. There are varieties of red-leaved aloes, golden aloes, and orange aloe plants, in addition to the green-leaved aloes that are the most common variety.
There are over 500 different Aloe plants, and they are a kind of flowering succulent. Aloe plants produce bright crimson, orange, yellow, or pink blooms when they bloom. Aloe varieties flourish in hot, dry climates where other types of aloe grow. Because of its medicinal benefits, aloe vera is a excellent houseplant.
It’s critical that you have a genuine aloe vera variety if you want to utilize the healing gel from the leaf since some forms of aloe plants may be harmful. You’ll learn about a variety of distinct types of aloe plants (with images to help you distinguish them) in this article. You’ll also learn about the various aloes colors and characteristics, as well as which ones to utilize.
Aloe Vera Propagation
Offshoots (also known as pups or baby aloe plants) are the finest way to propagate an Aloe Vera plant. Baby plants that are still linked to the main mother plant are known as aloe offshoots (pups). Wait until the baby aloe vera plant is large enough to be separated from the main plant.
Types of Aloe Plants (With Pictures and Names)
Let’s take a closer look at the most common type of aloe, aloe vera, and other fleshly-leaved succulents.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is a popular houseplant that thrives in tropical environments and is the most common kind of aloe plant. The leaves of the plant are thick and succulent, and they have healing properties. Aloe vera plants are also known as “genuine aloe,” “Chinese aloe,” or “Indian aloe.”
Green leaves grow to be up to 24″ (60 cm) tall and have a spread of up to 24″ (60 cm). The leaves are usually grey-green in color and have serrated edges. White dots or specks may appear on the leaves of various types of aloe vera.
Aloe vera plants bloom once a year if they get enough sunlight outdoors. Each blossom on each blooming stalk has 15 yellow tubular blooms that hang from a spike. Aloe vera is a valuable medicinal herb as well as being an ornamental herb. There are 75 active ingredients in aloe vera that may benefit your skin. Aloe Vera gel has anti-inflammatory properties, promotes wound healing, has antibacterial qualities, and moisturizes dry skin.
Applying the gel directly to the skin may cause allergic reactions in certain individuals due to the presence of latex in aloe vera leaves. Aloe vera can be cultivated as a houseplant in a small pot or container on a sunny window sill. You should reside in USDA hardiness zones 8-10 if you want this kind of blooming succulent to embellish your yard. With most aloe species, this is true of developing plants.
Lace Aloe
Lace aloe (Aloe aristata) is a little aloe plant with short succulent leaves and white dots that can tolerate cold temperatures. The Torch plant or guinea-fowl aloe is a native of Southern Africa that grows as a shrub. The lacy white borders on the leaves give this variety of aloe its name. Little white elevated dots cover the surface of the greenish leaves.
Lace Aloe plant leaves develop in little clumps that resemble a rosette shape, as opposed to aloe vera plants with lengthy spindly leaves. One of the few aloes species that can tolerate cold temperatures is lace aloe. In temperatures as low as 19°F (-7°C), you may grow this lovely succulent outdoors. This aloe plant, which is only suitable for sunny conditions indoors, requires minimal care. You may propagate more plants by separating clumps of Lace aloe leaves in time.
Short-Leafed Aloe
The Short-Leafed Aloe (Aloe brevifolia) has white serrated margins on its blue-grey leaves, similar to the Lace aloe. This is a tiny aloe plant that grows no higher than 4 inches (10 cm). A rosette pattern emerges from the short fat clumping leaves. The leaves of this aloe species may turn a light red color when it gets enough sun.
The short-leafed aloe blooms once a year, as it does with most types of aloe. A long stem with bright red blooms emerges from the succulent in November. This kind of dwarf aloe can be grown on rock beds with good drainage and plenty of sunlight. This tiny aloe species, on the other hand, is a fascinating houseplant that requires minimal care.
Rubble Aloe
The Rubble aloe (Aloe perfoliata) is a good option since its crimson leaves and crimson blooms make it a crimson variety of aloe plant. This tough aloe species thrives in hot, dry summers and can endure frigid winters as well. Plant it in a spot with plenty of sunlight to get the most from this aloe.
This will help keep the leaves reddish. The Rubble aloe blooms in the summer, as opposed to the winter bloomers of most other aloe plants. Red blooms emerge from the star-shaped clumps when it receives enough sunlight. This aloe produces cone-shaped or spherical blooms depending on the circumstances.
Golden Toothed Aloe
The Golden Toothed aloe (Aloe nobilis) is an aloe plant with green stumpy triangular leaves that blooms in the summertime. Along the margins, there are a series of yellow-white teeth. The Golden Toothed aloes may reach a height of 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) and a width of up to 12 inches (30 cm). As it receives full sunlight, the leaves become bright green and develop crimson characteristics.
The Golden Toothed aloe blooms in the summer, much like the “Rubble aloe. The rosette-shaped plant will produce red tubular blooms that are approximately 2 feet (60 cm) long. If you need excellent ground-covering plants for full sun, one of the benefits of growing Golden Toothed aloes is. To brighten up your garden, this sort of aloe thrives and creates a lovely green and red carpeting.
Soap Aloe
The Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata) is a salt-tolerant plant with crimson and green leaves and interesting markings that is ideal for coastal areas or in a pot. The colorful leaves of the Soap aloe are covered with prominent white spots. In addition, the triangle-shaped leaves have white teeth along their edges. In the summer, this low-growing flowering type of ornamental aloe blooms. The top of stems that may be up to 2 feet (60 cm) long have outward-growing red tubular blooms.
The Soap aloe may offer stunning blooms for a few weeks in the summer if you reside in an arid region. The plant will tolerate temperatures down to 32°F (0°C), even though this aloe variety thrives in hot, dry climates. The Soap aloe is a excellent blooming succulent for coastal regions because it is salt-resistant as well.
Tiger Tooth Aloe
The Tiger-Tooth aloe (Aloe juvenna) is a clumping type of aloe that thrives in pots and is commonly grown. The plant, which comes from Kenya, thrives in harsh hot areas. Long stems with tiny spiky triangular leaves on them characterize this unusual green and white type of aloe. The leaves are in dense clusters and can grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) long.
The leaves of this aloe turn a lovely reddish-brown color when it gets full sun. Tiger-Tooth aloe plant blooms less frequently than other aloe cultivars, compared to some other aloe cultivars. You’ll get an spectacular display of red-orange blooms when it does bloom in the late summer. This plant is a popular kind of aloe because of its ornamental appearance. As the aloe stems begin to trail, you may grow this variety for great ground cover. The Aloe squarrosa, a kind of aloe with lengthy curling fleshy leaves on the stems, is occasionally mistaken with the Tiger Tooth aloe.
The Tiger Tooth Aloe, Aloe squarrosa, is frequently mistaken with this plant.
African Aloe
The African aloe (Aloe africana) is a big variety of aloe plant from South Africa that is also known as the Uitenhage aloe. This plant, which resembles a little palm tree, is similar to many species of aloe from South Africa. This aloe, which is native to South Africa, grows to between 6 and 8 feet (1.8 and 2.4 meters) tall. From the top of the stem, large bluish-green triangle-shaped aloe leaves sprout in all directions. In a garden with full sun and high humidity, this massive aloe might serve as a focal point.
This isn’t a frost-tolerant aloe, and it shouldn’t be grown in pots. In the winter or early spring, the Uitenhage African aloe blooms. Many tubular orange and yellow flowers protrude from the stem’s center, forming a large cone.
Aloe Albiflora
The Albiflora, with its tiny thin greenish leaves and white dots, is one of the smallest aloe plants available. The white lily-type blossoms that this kind of tiny aloe produces are a distinctive characteristic. Little white blooms with tiny trumpets make up the small white flowers.
This aloe plant variety blooms throughout the summer. The short, slender leaf blades may grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and have a pointed tip. The aloe Albiflora is a small plant that requires minimal care and may be placed in a tabletop vase.
Clanwilliam Aloe
The Clanwilliam tree-type aloe plant (Aloe comosa) is another South African species of aloe. The central stem of this aloe variety may reach a height of 10 feet (3 meters). The succulent leaves, which grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) long, are also rather huge.
Reddish-brown soft thorns border the leaf edges. In the summer, the Clanwilliam aloe blooms. You will get beautiful clusters of pink-white or ivory white flowers in the form of a thin cone if you plant this aloe in your garden or a large container.
Red Aloe
The Red aloe, Aloe cameronii, is a slender-looking aloe plant with coral-colored leaves. It’s a red variation of the species. This aloe isn’t a clumping kind. Long and curving are the words that describe the long tooth-edged leaves. The amount of sunlight and water that the succulent gets determines the color of its leaves. In the winter, the leaf color can change from vivid green to rich copper. In the winter, this aloe produces a lovely shade for your yard.
This crimson variety of aloe plant will grow to be about 24 inches (60 cm) in diameter, and it will expand twice that. The leaves will stay copper in color if little water is applied, but they’ll turn green if too much water is applied.
Spiral Aloe
Spiral aloe is a succulent that has thick triangular leaves with tooth edging and thrives in cooler climates. The Spiral aloe is a stunning plant if you want to have one of the greatest forms of aloe for your garden. The spiral formation of the fleshy green leaves is one of the distinctive characteristics of this kind of aloe. This aloe plant’s distinctiveness is enhanced by its white spines along the leaf margins and dark brown leaf tips.
The aloe plant grows to a height of around 12 inches (30 centimeters) and a width of around 24 inches (60 centimeters). The Spiral aloe resembles a blue-green ball with spiky edges. Aloe blooms can also be rather stunning. A massive fat stem in the center of the plant produces tubular red to pink blooms during the summer. Spiral aloe is a species of aloe plant that thrives in cooler regions. It can withstand frost and snow and thrives in cool summers.
Aloe Principis
The Aloe Pinrcipis (also known as Aloe caesia) is a fantastic option if you want a huge beautiful aloe plant. Aloe ferox (also known as bitter aloe) and Aloe arborescens were crossed to produce this aloe variety. The rich blue coloured thick gel-filled leaves of the Aloe Pinrcipis (also known as Aloe caesia) are large. The aloe succulent leaves may grow to be between 6 and 9 feet (1.8 and 2.7 meters) tall. This aloe variety grows up to 6 feet (180 cm) tall and 3 feet (90 cm) wide.
This kind of aloe may brighten up your rock garden or succulent garden during the winter if you have room in your rock or succulent garden. The aloe plant produces large colorful floral red spikes. The blueish-green jagged leaves contrast beautifully with these fiery-looking blooms. Plant it in full sun and sandy soil that drains well to help your large aloe variety achieve its best growth.
Climbing Aloe
The Climbing aloe (Aloiampelos ciliaris) is a non-preferred name for aloe vera, which grows quickly. The stems of this aloe plant are topped with curling leaves. The aloe can climb trees and dense vegetation thanks to its recurved leaves. They grow haphazardly if there is no support from the quickly expanding leaves. Soft teeth run along the margins and down the stalk of each light-green leaf.
During the winter and early spring, this aloe plant is in its flowering phase. Large, vividly colored red blooms are expected to cheer up your winter garden. This shrubby aloe plant can only grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in containers if you want to maintain it. This aloe plant climbs and is one of the quickest-growing aloe types, making it unusual among the aloe types.
Mountain Aloe
The Mountain aloe (Aloe marlothii) is an big specimen of aloe plant that grows in the mountains. Aloe vera plants of some varieties may grow as high as 20 feet (6 meters) and have 5-foot (1.5-meter) broad leaves! The sturdy aloe leaves rise skyward and bend upward. In the winter, Reddish-brown spines can be seen along the leaf margins.
The flat-flowered aloe produces some of the most distinct kinds of blooms of any aloe plant, and it’s also known as the flat-flowered aloe. On stalks, each plant may produce up to 50 clusters of blossoms. These lovely flowers may range in color from yellow to brilliant red throughout the winter months. The African aloe, or Cape aloe, is a related species of aloe native to Southern Africa. The distinct blossoms of the aloe plant are a distinguishing feature of this type of aloe.