We all know the Aloe vera, a crass plant whose gel is used among other things, to heal wounds and relieve itching. But Did you know that there are other types of Aloe that are also very decorative and very easy to care for?
In this article I am going to introduce you to 5 different species that you can have as long as you want in a pot, decorating your patio or terrace.
Aloe aculeata
Image - Wikimedia / William Crochot
El Aloe aculeata is a type of aloe that develops a rosette of green leaves with very, very short reddish-brown spines, which are more abundant on the underside than on the upper side. It measures up to 1 meter in height by about the same width. The flowers are orange, yellow, red or bicolor. Its growth is slow, but it is a very decorative plant from a young age. It tolerates frosts down to -2ºC.
Aloe aristata
Image - Flickr / Stefano
El Aloe aristata It is a type of Aloe that is always kept small. With a height of no more than 10cm and with a diameter of up to 30cm, it is a species whose leaves are elegantly decorated with white "dots". Supports up to -2ºC.
aloe ciliaris
Image - Wikimedia / Salicyna
El aloe ciliaris, known as climbing aloe, It is a species that can measure up to 10 meters long if it has support to climb. It has green, lanceolate and leathery leaves, and its flowers are orange with a green lower end. The best thing is that, despite its appearance, it supports the cold quite well; But yes, it is advisable to protect it from hail, especially if it is young. As an adult it can withstand mild frosts down to -2ºC.
aloe ferox
Image - Wikimedia / Stan Shebs
El aloe ferox It is classified within the group of arborescent or arboreal aloes. It develops a more or less cylindrical stem with a swollen base that reaches up to 3 meters in height., and thick glaucous green leaves protected by short reddish spines on the underside. Its flowering is one of the most beautiful of the aloes, since the center of the rosette of leaves sprout bright red flower spikes that attract a lot of attention. It resists weak frosts down to -2ºC.
Aloe humilis
Image - Wikimedia / Pierre Mirosa
El Aloe humilis it is a small plant, which does not exceed 10 centimeters in height. It produces many suckers from the roots throughout its life, and also does so at a fairly rapid rate. Therefore, it is easy to occupy a 10,5 cm diameter pot in one or two years. It produces red flowers from a stem that sprouts from the center of the specimen. Resists up to -3ºC.
Aloe juvenna - Aloe squarrosa
Image - Flickr / auricio Mercadante
El aloe juvenna It is a different plant: with very small leaves grouped one oak from the other, it grows in height. In addition, it removes suckers, so it does not take long to occupy an entire 20-centimeter pot. It has jagged edges, but don't worry: its 'teeth' don't do any harm. Supports up to -3ºC.
Aloe marlothii
Image - Flickr / Bernard DUPONT
El Aloe marlothii or mountain aloe that has green leaves with short reddish spines, which are more present on the underside than on the upper face. Over time it develops a single stem that reaches 8 meters in height. Its flowers are grouped in branching clusters that arise from the center of the rosette of leaves, and are yellow. Resists up to -4ºC.
Aloe plicatilis
Image - Wikimedia / Aesculapius
And we end up with a species that grows like a tree: the Aloe plicatilis. It reaches a height of 5 meters, with a trunk that thickens to about 50 centimeters in diameter. We could think that due to its size it is more of a garden plant than to have in a pot, but the truth is that Aloe trees that grow like a tree are VERY slow, and also, their root system is superficial, so they can be grown in large pots without problem. This species supports up to -3ºC.
Aloe saponaria - Aloe maculata
Image - Wikimedia / Digigalos
El aloe soapwort It is a plant that grows to a height of 30 centimeters, and has a short stem that keeps it slightly elevated from the ground. Its leaves are green towards the center, and darker towards the tips. It grows very quickly, as long as the temperature does not drop below -3ºC.
Aloe somaliensis
Image - Wikimedia / Stan Shebs
This species of Aloe it is characterized by having the leaves decorated with elongated whitish spots, and for having jagged edges. The newer ones are green, while the "older" ones turn reddish. Supports up to -2ºC.
aloe striata
Image - Wikimedia / Bernard DUPONT
El aloe striata It is a succulent that I personally love. It has light green leaves with pink margins; it lacks thorns, and its flowers are also a beautiful coral red. It forms a single rosette of leaves, which can measure 30-35 centimeters in height by 50 centimeters in diameter. It supports up to -3ºC if they are frosts of short duration, although it is advisable to protect from hail.
Do you know other types of Aloe?