More than aloe vera, learn about 23 Types of Aloe Varieties to Grow in Containers that are low maintenance, drought-tolerant, and BEAUTIFUL! From over 500 species from aloe genus, we’ve selected 23 types of aloe varieties that you can grow in containers, indoors or outdoors.
1- Sunset Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe dorotheae
Ultimate Height and Spread: Around 12 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide
Container Size: Small to Medium
Sunset aloe is an evergreen succulent variety that turns light green when grown in partial shade but terrific glossy red in full sun. The leaves develop white spikes along its edges. Greenish-yellow flowers are generally seen in winter and spring.
2- Spiral Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe Polyphylla
Ultimate Height and Spread: Usually 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Container Size: Medium
Aloe polyphylla is a unique aloe variety that forms a rosette of bluish-green leaves. As the plant ages, it forms an alluring spiral pattern in either clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Also, it flowers sporadically, but once it does, it’s a sight to withhold.
3- Guido Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe ‘Guido’
Ultimate Height and Spread: 6 to 8 inches tall and wide
Container Size: Small
Guido aloe is an exquisite hybrid aloe variety with attractive green and white-coloured rosette-shaped patchy foliage. This mini aloe can live well in small decorative containers.
4- Carmine Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe ‘Carmine‘
Ultimate Height and Spread: Usually 8 to 10 inches tall and wide
Container Size: Small
This miniature hybrid variety can be an excellent addition to your indoor or outdoor garden. The leaves are striking dark orange at edges with toothed margins and go well with containers of contrasting colours.
5- Crosby’s Prolific
Botanical Name: Aloe ‘Crosby’s prolific’
Height and Spread: No more than 6 inches tall and 9 to 12 inches wide
Container Size: Small
Another impressive miniature aloe that forms the rosette of deep green foliage with a lot of teeth and speckled skin. If kept in sunlight, the leaves turn into the alluring reddish-orange.
6- Lace Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe aristata
Height and Spread: 6 to 10 inches tall and wide
Container Size: Small to Medium
The distinct characteristic of this plant is that the leaves have raised white dots, which are somewhat spiny near the base. It becomes a beautiful houseplant and requires no care if kept in a warm spot that receives some sunlight.
7- Short Leaf Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe brevifolia
Ultimate Height and Spread: Around 6 to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Container Size: Small to Medium
This rosette-forming succulent has short grey-green fleshy leaves in part sun, which turns into reddish pink in full sun. Grow it in a small decorative container alone, or in combination with other succulents.
8- Red Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe cameronii
Ultimate Height and Spread: 12 to 24 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide
Container Size: Medium to Large
This slow-growing aloe variety has low watering needs, and if you’ve got a spot where it can receive full sunlight, it’ll reward you with beautiful copper-red foliage, the most attractive in all the aloe species.
9- Candelabra Aloe (Krantz Aloe)
Botanical Name: Aloe arborescens
Ultimate Height and Spread: 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide
Container Size: Large
One of the tallest aloe species. This shade-tolerant shrub-like succulent also bears attractive flowers in the vibrant shade of red and orange.
*Not only that, but some studies also suggest that aloe arborescens is effective against cancer alongside chemotherapy.
10- Cape Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe Ferox
Ultimate Height and Spread: Can grow over 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide
Container Size: Large
Cape aloe, bitter aloe, and tap aloe are some of the common names this aloe goes with. This is another giant aloe variety that presents a great architectural show when grown outside in a frost-free climate. Majestic!
11- Coral Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe Striata
Ultimate Height and Spread: 12 to 18 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide
Container Size: Medium
The pink shade on its appealing big broad leaves is the reason why this plant is known as “Coral Aloe.” Unlike other common aloe varieties, coral aloe is toothless and contains no spikes on leaf edges. It’s one of the best cold hardy aloes that grows well in a shaded and sunny location both. However, the true rosy-pink colour appears in full sun.
12- Tiger Tooth Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe juvenna
Ultimate Height and Spread: Around 12 inches tall and wide similarly
Container Size: Small to Large
Tiger tooth aloe is one of the most beautiful aloe varieties for containers. It’s a small clump-forming succulent that is native to Kenya, which means it prefers hot growing conditions. Grow it as a houseplant or outside in containers in a warm spot that receives some sun.
13- Spider Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe humilis
Ultimate Height and Spread: Around 6 inches tall and 6 to 8 inches wide
Container Size: Small
Also known as hedgehog aloe, this low growing variety has beautiful clusters of stemless rosettes growing closely. The leaves are small and covered with irregular tiny white spines. This lightly frost tolerant succulent also bears flowers in the shades of red, orange, and bright yellow.
14- Tiger Aloe
Botanical Name: Gonialoe Variegata
Ultimate Height and Spread: Grows between 6 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 9 inches wide
Container Size: Small
One of the most beautiful aloe varieties to grow in containers. Tiger aloe has a distinctly small sword shape fat foliage adorned with amazingly white strips marked on green leaves.
15- Aloe Capitata
Botanical Name: Aloe Capitata var. quartziticola
Ultimate Height and Spread: Can grow up to 2-3 feet tall and wide similarly
Container Size: Medium
This stemless rosette-forming aloe variety has a union of showy fat leaves splashed with a vibrant bluish pink shade, which turns into the deep pink or light red in full sun. It has red margined edges that are adorned with sharp but small teeth. The biggest asset of this aloe species is its bell-shaped flowers of orange shade.
16- Aloe Vera
Botanical Name: Aloe Barbadensis
Ultimate Height and Spread: Can grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Container Size: Small to Medium
This aloe variety needs no introduction. It is available with so many names like aloe vera, true aloe, Indian aloe, Chinese aloe, and first-aid plant. Not only it’s an ornamental plant, but it’s also one of the most valuable medicinal plants in the world.
17- Fan Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe plicatilis
Ultimate Height and Spread: 6-8 feet tall in a pot and up to 15 feet on the ground
Pot Size: Large
If you’re looking for a decorative statement plant for your garden or entryway, grow fan aloe. Growing fan aloe in a pot is not difficult, keep it in a large pot in a warm location that receives some sun. If you’re living in a cool region, shift the plant indoors for winter protection.
19- Aloe Descoingsii
Botanical Name: Aloe descoingsii
Ultimate Height and Spread: 3 inches tall and wide similarly
Container Size: Small
Aloe descoingsii is the smallest of all aloe species. The tiny rosettes of it only grow to about 2-3 inches long. The dark green leaves have magical white spots on them along with serrated white edges, coming out from the centre as if they’re entwined together. Yellow to orange coloured flowers appears on 6 inches tall racemes during spring to summer, making it more beautiful.
20- Soap Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe maculata
Ultimate Height and Spread: Grows up to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Container Size: Small to medium size container
Grow this evergreen succulent perennial for the year-round show of foliage and flowers. It’s deep bluish-green foliage perks up perfectly in a part shade spot outdoors or indoors.
21- Somalian Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe somaliensis
Ultimate Height and Spread: Grows up to 6 to 12 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide
Container Size: This slow-growing aloe can be grown in small pots
Somalian aloe is a beautiful ornamental aloe variety decorated with green and white textured foliage. It bears pink to red tubular flowers in summer.
22- Aloe Caesia
Botanical Name: Aloe x principis
Ultimate Height and Spread: 4 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide
Container Size: Medium to Large
It is a cross between Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescent and has kept somewhat improved characteristics of both varieties. It grows high but not as heavy as aloe Ferox and also shows much orderly growth than Aloe arborescent.
23- Climbing Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloiampelos ciliaris
Ultimate Height and Spread: Doesn’t grow above 10 feet tall in pots
Container Size: Medium to Large
It’s a rare climbing variety of aloe. The woody stems and greatly recurved leaves help this plant to climb on nearby trees or any structural support. If there is no support in the vicinity, it shows a straggly growth. It also produces unique tubular-shaped flowers when exposed to direct sun, in the charming shade of red with creamy yellow tips.
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