Are you looking to grow Aloe Vera at home? If you’ve never grown an Aloe Vera plant before and don’t know which variety to choose, read on to discover three common varieties and find out which may be the most suitable for your needs.
Aloe Variety 1: Aloe Vera Chinensis
If you want a small and manageable plant that you can grow indoors, Chinensis will be perfect for your needs, especially for topical use. Planting this variety outdoors is best done away from extreme temperatures, as both direct sun and intense cold can burn its tips or younger plants completely. A spot in the garden with six hours of indirect sunlight is ideal for this variety. This variety grows pups prolifically at a young age and is a fast-growing aloe. Its flowers are orange.
Aloe Variety 2: Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller (edible)
This variety is a must-have if you plan to add Aloe Vera to your food, as it is edible. This variety is used commercially and grows bigger than Chinensis. It can still be grown in pots indoors and is a hardier variety to grow outdoors compared to Chinensis. This variety has thick, wide, fleshy upright leaves that are grey-green in colour and are arranged in a very distinct circular rosette form. The younger leaves are spotted with white flecks or streaks, just like Chinensis, but these markings disappear as they mature. The mature leaves are plain in colour, without any white spots or streaks. The flowers of this variety are yellow.
Aloe Variety 3: Aloe Vera Arborescens (edible)
This variety is a fast-growing plant that can cope with dry conditions. It is said to be the hardiest of all three varieties. This plant is best grown for its increased number (three times more) of medicinal constituents compared to the other aloe varieties. The leaves are broader and contain less gel and more of the bitter latex than other varieties. They can be grown in pots or outdoors and can tolerate direct sun better than the other two varieties. The flowers of this variety are a stunning deep red/orange colour.
Decided which plant to grow? Well, what are you waiting for? Go out and get growing! ????
