Scientific name: Aloe vera
Common name: Chinese/Indian Aloe
Family:[Xanthorrhoeaceae]
Origin: Probably West Asia; unknown in the wild.
A fleshy and succulent herb looking like an agave, but flowering repeatedly instead of once only, and the leaves non-fibrous. Aloe are native to Africa and Arabia while agaves are native to the Americas.
Aloe vera was already grown and used by the Greeks in 400 BC for its healing properties. 'Extracts from this plant are widely used in the cosmetics and alternative medicine industries, being marketed as variously having rejuvenating, healing, or soothing properties. There is, however, little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes...' Personally, I use the plant gel to soothe burns, including sun burns.
Anyway Aloe is really very easy to grow. It is best grown in full sun and propagate by division of clumps. For bigger leaves, remove the plantlets/offsets to prevent crowding. I have a few containers of this plant, but have never seen any flowers on them. Ces't la vie.
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