ঘৃতকুমারী

Grow your own natural first-aid plant. Harvest gel for skin and burns. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) is a succulent perennial native to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, UAE). Features thick, fleshy, grey-green leaves with serrated edges containing clear medicinal gel and yellow latex. The gel is widely used for burns, cuts, sunburns, and skin conditions. Mature plants (3+ years) produce tall spikes of yellow-orange tubular flowers in summer. Award of Garden Merit recipient. Very low maintenance, drought-tolerant. Offsets (pups) form at base for easy propagation. Note: Latex (yellow sap) is toxic if ingested; only use clear inner gel topically.

# Care Instructions - **Light**: Place in full sun or partial shade, ensuring bright indirect light. - **Watering**: Water when soil is dry to the touch, maintaining good drainage. - **Soil**: Use well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5 and rich in organic matter.

### Potting & Planting Instructions for Aloe Vera 1. **Container Selection**: Choose a terracotta, ceramic, or nursery pot with generous drainage holes at the base. 2. **Soil Mix Recipe**: Use Extremely well-draining gritty mix (50% pumice/perlite, 25% coarse river sand, 25% organic loam); pH 6.0–7.2. Adding a layer of coarse gravel or leca at the bottom enhances oxygenation. 3. **Planting Depth**: Position the plant at the exact same root collar depth as in its nursery container. Avoid burying stems too deep. 4. **Initial Settling**: After potting, water thoroughly until water drains freely, then place in bright indirect light for 3–5 days to acclimatize before moving to full sun.

Harvest mature stems/leaves as needed using clean sterilized pruning shears.

Pairs wonderfully with drought-tolerant companion plants and complementary succulents & cacti varieties.

Origin Country

Arabian Peninsula (Oman, UAE - Hajar Mountains)

Climate Zone

USDA 8-11 (Zone 10+ for outdoor perennial)

Alternative Names

True Aloe, Medicinal Aloe, Burn Plant, First Aid Plant, Miracle Plant, Plant of Immortality, Sabila, Barbados Aloe, Curacao Aloe

Plant Age

Flowers at 3+ years old; pups can be divided anytime

Pot Size

Terra cotta pots with drainage; shallow wide containers preferred

Mature Height

1-2 ft

Mature Width

Up to 3 feet (0.9 meters)

Growth Rate

Medium

Soil Mix

Sandy

Germination

Not typically grown from seed (propagated by offsets/pups division)

Blooming Season

Summer (mature plants 3+ years); yellow/orange tubular flowers on 3 ft spike

Fruiting Season

Loculicidal capsules with seeds (rarely in cultivation)

Flower Color

Yellow to orange tubular flowers

Fruit Color

Capsules (not ornamental)

Yield / Year

Year-round medicinal gel and ornamental rosette offsets

Lifespan

Many years; decades with proper care

Rootstock

Clumping; propagated by division of offsets/pups from base

Toxicity Info

Topical gel is soothing; leaf rind contains aloin which is mildly toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.