Aloe Vera

If there were a prize for useful houseplant Aloe Vera would take the crown. The list of medicinal uses for this plant are vast even to the point of being a dewormer!
Aloe Vera has over 500 different varieties, but when we are thinking of it, the one that no doubt comes to mind is Aloe barbadensis 'Miller', a hardy succulent that thrives with only a small bit of attention.

The Aloe is originally thought to come from the Arabian peninsula and its name actually comes from the Arabic word 'alloeh' which means shiny and bitter. It has travelled world wide and can be found growing in the wild in any sub tropical area.

Its medicinal properties have been recognised throughout time. The Egyptians (1500 BC) thought of it as the plant of immortality and would give it as funeral gifts and use it in the embalming process. The Sumerians (2000 BC) thought it was a plant of the Gods. In Greek and Roman times they sent it with soldiers into battle to treat their wounds. Now in our time it is cultivated for use in the cosmetic and health industry for treating burns to improve digestion.

All Aloes love dry conditions so the one thing crucial in growing them is well draining soil, this can be achieved for potted plants by mixing some vermiculite in with some potting compost at a ratio of around 1:1. They don't tolerate very cold conditions so if you live in an area prone to frost it's best not to plant them outside or if you do bring them inside for the winter.

They propagate by producing offsets from the mother plant called 'pups'. These are easily identifiable as they will look like very miniature versions of the mother, they can be gently pried from the soil and placed in a new pot.
Aloe Vera 'Miller' does produce a flower but generally only in very favourable conditions, so you may have one for years without a bloom because it was slightly too hot, too cold, too wet etc. When it does bloom however the flower can be spectacular, on the larger plants it can reach up to 3ft in height! It looks very similar to Kniphofia (Red Hot Pokers) and is yellow or orange in colour.

As already mentioned the Aloe is a great medicinal plant. If you have your own and it is large and healthy, pick a mature leaf and using a sharp clean knife, slice it at the base of the plant. Lay it flat on a chopping board and cut it into segments, take some kitchen paper and dab the bottom of the cuts and a yellow juice will come out, this should be discarded as it's a natural latex and no good for the skin. Once this is done, cut off the spiky outer edges. You can then peel the outside of the leaf off revealing the transparent gel inside. This can be used topically on sunburn, acne, scratches or simply under a moisturiser as a serum. You can also wash and eat the gel as a natural gut soother, don't eat too often though as it can have a laxative effect.

So if you don't have an Aloe barbadensis, consider adding one to your houseplant collection, it will come in handy for any sunburn we might be getting at the moment!