Aloe vera
Aloe vera
The burn plant of kitchen windowsills: the clear leaf gel has long been spread on scalds and sunburn. A succulent for pots.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 2 ft tall, 2 ft wide
From: Arabian Peninsula
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: pollinators, traditional use, Ayurvedic tradition.
Native to: Sahara & Arabian deserts. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Aloe vera comes from the Arabian Peninsula and has been carried along trade routes for more than two thousand years; Egyptian and Greek physicians wrote of it. It is now a windowsill plant on every continent.
Planting
Bright light and a gritty, fast-draining mix. Outdoors only where frost is rare.
Growing
Water deeply, then let it dry out. Pot up the offsets that crowd the base.
Harvest and use
Cut an outer leaf, stand it to drain the yellow sap, then split it; the clear gel is traditionally spread on minor burns and sunburn.
What to watch for
Overwatering rots it. The yellow sap under the skin is a harsh laxative; the plant is for skin, not for eating.
Safety
The gel is widely used on skin, but the yellow latex under the leaf skin is a harsh laxative; the FDA removed aloe laxatives from over-the-counter sale. Don't take aloe by mouth in pregnancy.
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home