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Genus Aloe

Aloe Aloe distans Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken
AL-oh
A large genus of more than 300 species of succulents that range in size from low-growing perennials to trees, shrubs, and vines. The leaves grow in rosettes. Flowers are red or yellow, but some species rarely flower. Grow aloes in a desert garden, border, container, or xeric bed.
 Care: Provide full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Aloes tolerate soil of low fertility, and some smaller species can take part shade.
 Propagation: Start plants from fresh seed, or from stem cuttings or offsets in late spring or early summer.
 Problems: Mealybugs, scale, root rot, bacterial soft rot, fungal stem and leaf rots.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Aloe

Aloe cameronii Aloe cameronii
(Red aloe) (2 user reviews)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Aloe is best known as a medicinal plant (Aloe vera, Zones 10-11), but there are many beautiful aloes as well. Most have amazing winter flowers, and some, have interesting foliage color. Red aloe  has color that varies from green to a deep, red wine hue, depending on sun and water. and, over time, will form beautiful red-purple mounds with orange flowers. It is easily propagated from cuttings. -Jeff Moore, Regional Picks: Southwest, Fine Gardening issue #120
Aloe polyphylla Aloe polyphylla
(Spiral aloe) (4 user reviews)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

The spine-tipped leaves of this aloe grow in a beautiful spiral; mature plants have five rows of leaves growing either clockwise or counterclockwise. It is very hardy, but will rarely flower. A native of Lesotho, Africa, it is extremely endangered due to overcollecting.