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They are known for their impressive leaf rosettes. There are almost 500 different species of these succulents. These include both edible and poisonous varieties. The most well-known representative among the countless varieties is indisputably the edible aloe vera. In order to correctly recognize and distinguish between the plants, we have listed some well-known and lesser-known aloe species below as a small guide.
Edible aloe species
Notice: Unpeeled leaves of aloes are not edible. They contain a high proportion of anthranoids, which are toxic. Also, gel from the leaves should not necessarily be prepared by yourself. Even with the most careful removal of the leaf peel, aloin can get into the gel. This ingredient is also toxic.
A. arborescens
This is a tree aloe from South Africa. In this country, their name is wound cactus or eternal aloe. This species is less known, but very fast-growing. The woody trunk is bare and can grow up to 3 meters high. There are usually several strains. A loose rosette of leaves appears at the end, consisting of narrow leaves with serrated edges. After one to two years, many side shoots form at the base of the trunk. These plants can easily tolerate a few sub-zero temperatures. A pruning is also possible. They then drive out again without any problems.
- shrubby growth
- Inflorescence 60 to 80 cm long
- Flower color bright red to scarlet
A. arborescens is not only edible, but also approved as a medicinal plant. The juice of the leaves can heal burns.
A.ferox
BotBln, Aloe ferox BotGardBln271207B, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
This tree aloe is also known as Kapaloe or Wild Aloe. It has its origins in the dry regions of South Africa. The trunk can easily reach a height of 3 meters. It has dull green, slightly reddish leaves. They are thick-fleshed and have brown, hard thorns on the edges. The top and bottom of the leaves have horny spines. The leaf length varies between 80 and 100 centimeters.
- flower clusters up to 130 cm high
- branched inflorescences
- Flower color bright scarlet to orange
The thickened juice of the leaves is used as a remedy.
A vera
Sometimes it can also be traded under the name A. barbadensis. In this country it is known as desert lily or real aloe. It originally comes from the Arabian Peninsula. This type of aloe is probably the best known. The trunk is 35 to 55 centimeters high and has oblong to lanceolate leaves. These can reach a length of up to 50 centimeters and are blue-green in color with white spots. Pink to red teeth are arranged on the leaf edges. Side shoots and runners can form at the base of the plant.
- 60 cm high inflorescence
- tubular flowers
- Flower color yellow to orange
- Flowering April to August
The gel inside the leaf is particularly suitable for consumption. It is contained in various industrially produced foods such as yoghurt.
The plants are also known for their medicinal properties. The ingredients of the plants are also used in the cosmetics industry, for example in body lotions and creams. They are also processed in everyday objects such as panty liners or cotton swabs.
Care instructions for this plant can be found here.
Poisonous aloe species
The vast majority of aloe species are not suitable for consumption because of their toxicity.
A. africana
Maja Dumat, Aloe africana - Dresden, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
As the name suggests, this representative comes from Africa. Its very sprawling leaves, which stand together in a rosette, are particularly striking. The leaf surface is bare, there are reddish thorns underneath and the leaf tip also has red thorns. The trunk grows upright and can reach a height of up to 4 meters.
- branched growth
- candle-like inflorescences
- densely occupied
- Flower color bright yellow to orange
A.aristata
This species is native to South Africa and grows without a stem. The leaves stand together in a rosette. They are fleshy dark green to gray in color and are 8 to 15 centimeters long. Whitish spines are present along their edges. The leaf surfaces are covered with white warts. With age, numerous side shoots can form.
- Inflorescence 50 cm high
- flowering in May
- orange flowers
- only last a few days
A. brevifolia
The light green leaves are 8 to 12 cm long. Its edge is studded with dense spikes. With increasing age, the trunk tilts sideways. Lateral shoots can develop in the leaf axils.
- Inflorescences 30 cm long
- Flower color bright red
A.polyphylla
This spiral aloe does not form a trunk. As the name suggests, the leaves are arranged in a spiral. They are somewhat ovoid to elongated and tapering at their ends. They are arranged in five spiral rows. The leaves are green with a purple tip. It is one of the few species that can survive a few sub-zero temperatures over a short period of time.
- densely branched inflorescence
- Height 50 to 60 cm
- Flower color light red to bright salmon red
A. striata
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, Coral Aloe (Aloe striata) (31710241744), crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
This is a stem-forming species of aloe. This consists of several parts. There are sometimes up to five shoots available. They can very often be covered with dead leaves. Otherwise the leaves are a nice light green colour.
- Flowers appear in summer
- Buds inconspicuous
- Flower color coral red
- hence the name "Coral Aloe"
A. variegata
Idillus, Aloe variegata 07, crop from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
This is a dwarf form among the aloes. It reaches a height of up to 40 cm. However, it must be said that it can reach a height of up to 4 meters in its homeland. The 10 to 15 cm long and lanceolate, fleshy leaves are arranged in an imbricated manner around the trunk. At first they stand upright and as they get older they tend to curl up. The leaf color is green with irregular white transverse bands. The first flowers appear when the plant is 10 to 15 cm tall. The stem can easily topple over when there are numerous flowers.
- 30 cm high inflorescence
- Flowering April to May
- Flower color pale pink to scarlet
A. aculeata
Daderot, Aloe aculeata - Botanical Garden - Heidelberg, Germany - DSC01324, Crop from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
These plants differ from others of their kind by their stemless habit. They tend to be creeping with a length of up to 70 centimetres. The large leaf rosette with thick and thorny leaves is very striking. They are up to 60 centimeters long and about 12 centimeters wide.
- Inflorescence up to 100 cm high
- Flower color bright lemon yellow
A. broomii
S Molteno, Aloe broomii - juvenile - Babylonstoren - Copy from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
These representatives of the plant genus originally come from South Africa. The plants can reach a height of up to one meter. The trunk is relatively short and covered with 30 cm wide leaves. These narrow towards the base of the leaf. There they are only 10 centimeters wide.
- inflorescences up to 150 cm high
- Flower color whitish to lemon yellow
- Leaf tip brownish
A. chabaudii
Ton Rulkens, Aloe chabaudii (4375649130), crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
This species originated in Africa. She is relatively undemanding. It usually grows in small groups. The green leaves are framed by a reddish-green border.
- Inflorescence 60 to 80 cm high
- branches growing
- Flower color strong brick red
A. cryptopoda
Photo by David J. Stang, Aloe cryptopoda 0zz, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
As a rule, these aloes always grow individually. There is also no trunk. The leaves are erect and slightly pointed at the end. They can grow 60 to 90 centimeters long.
- branched inflorescence
- Height up to 175 cm
- Flower color bright orange to scarlet
- Flower slightly yellowish pointed
A. grandidentata
Salicyna, Aloe grandidentata 2022-12-13 5866, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
The home of these aloes is in Botswana. usually they grow in groups. A tribe is not formed. The green and white mottled leaves stand together in a dense rosette. The relatively large teeth on the leaf edges are impressive.
- Inflorescence 90 cm high
- branches growing
- Flower color pale red to whitish
A. humilis
Photo by David J. Stang, Aloe humilis 0zz, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
These stemless aloes are native to South Africa. They are short in stature. The narrow, very fleshy and up to 30 centimeters long leaves are arranged in a rosette. The bright green leaves are studded with small white warts. The plants are ornamental.
- inflorescences up to 40 cm high
- 3 cm long flowers in racemes
- Flowering March to April
- Flower color coral red with yellow tips
A. koenenii
This aloe species originated in North Africa. The trunk is mostly creeping. The upright leaves are very slender. They are spotted with white on young plants and turn green with age.
- branched inflorescence
- Height up to 120 cm
- Flower color deep crimson
A. lineata
Nandaro, UCI Arboretum (20140607-0829), crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
This variety is originally from South Africa. When young, it grows close to the ground. Only with increasing age does a trunk form. The plant can reach a height of up to 2 meters. The leaves are relatively thin, but very long. They are light green to yellowish in color and have red spines along the edges.
- 75 to 100 cm long inflorescence
- Flower color salmon pink
A. peglerae
Marco Schmidt [1], Aloe peglerae IMG 2672, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.5They can grow individually or in small groups. As a rule, the trunk is very short and prostrate. The blue-green spiked leaves are slightly curved inwards. This makes them look somewhat spherical in shape. The A. pegterae is one of the critically endangered species.
- Inflorescence 40 cm high
- Flower color creamy white to pale red
A. saponaria (A. maculata)
Stan Shebs, Aloe saponaria 1, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
This species is also known as the soap aloe. The plant parts contain a gel that can be used to wash hands or laundry. The aloe species can grow individually or sometimes in dense groups.
- Inflorescence 40 to 100 cm high
- Flower color varies
- from salmon pink to orange and yellow to red
The gel of the plants is used in the manufacture of cosmetic products. Consumption should be avoided.