Famed for being a great healer of any number of skin conditions, Aloe Vera belongs to the genus Aloe. As well as making for a refreshing soft drink when added to water, Aloe describes any number of succulents with tough leaves and stems which store plenty of water.  Aloe Vera is therefore a very hardy little perennial, lasting year-round with very little watering.

Aloe Vera grows out into an impressive fan-shape.  Looking closely at its thick leaves, one might notice that the Aloe Vera plant has jagged edges.  Though these look like they might be at home in a shark’s mouth, they’re completely harmless.  Given that the species name is Vera, it’s a given that the Aloe Vera plant is green.  However, the name gives no indication of the charming grey-green spots that can present on the Aloe Vera’s leaves, nor of its tendency in summer to bloom with a set of pretty yellow flowers.

Aloe Vera, hardy as it is, requires little watering and in fact prefers a drier soil, though it will do equally well in an average soil.  Like any plant, it’s best to put an Aloe Vera plant somewhere it can receive a reasonable amount of sunlight, but it certainly won’t wilt during a cloudy spell.  When the Aloe Vera’s whimsical yellow flowers bloom in summer, it might be nice to put the plant out on an available balcony, where butterflies and hummingbirds can feed on it.