Aloe Vera (aka Medicine Plant, Burn Plant, Living First-Aid Plant)
Aloe vera barbadensis
Origin: North Africa
Plant: Spring and Summer,
Harvest: all year round for medicinal use
Propagate: whenever pups or suckers need thinning out at base of plant.
The thick, succulent leaves can grow from 30-80cm long and 2-10cm wide at the base.
This perennial plant grows to approximately 60cm. It has narrow, upwardly curving succulent leaves which are a green to grey-green colour with small spikes along their edges (leaf margins). Aloe vera can be planted in full sun in the garden or grown as a pot or hanging basket specimen. Aloe vera love the heat and hate cold, wet and frosts. Flowers are bright yellow at maturity – (A. perryi’s flowers are an orange/apricot shade).
Aloe vera is a succulent which has many medicinal uses, as well as being used in skin care products. The soothing aloe gel contained in the leaves is ideal for taking the sting out of sunburn, stopping the itch from mosquito bites and for moisturising the skin.