When most people think of aloe, it’s the relatively small and super-soothing Aloe vera plant that comes to mind. But there are over 300 species of this awesome plant, most of which are native to southern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. And if you’re lucky enough to live in the southern fourth of the US (USDA hardiness zones 8-15), you can enjoy many of these water wise beauties year-round! These showy, low-maintenance succulents are perfect for hot, dry climates: They demand little to no additional watering, making them popular selections for areas with limited water.

When gardeners think “aloe,” it’s the very popular Aloe vera that springs to mind.

Photo Credit: Felder Rushing

Beyond form and function, aloes provide interesting foliage and beautiful flowers.

Photo Credit: Felder Rushing

The other-worldly shapes of aloes help create gardens of terrific interest.

Photo Credit: Gerald L. Klingaman

Tree-type aloes make a dramatic statement in Xeric or drought-tolerant gardens.

Photo Credit: Mark A. Miller

With literally hundreds of species, it’s not surprising to learn you can find all sizes and shapes of the plant. Aloes can be as small as a 6-inch rosette or as tall as a 30-foot tree. Generally speaking, they all have thick, pointed, waxy leaves that tend toward rosette forms. Like most succulents, they thrive in full sun, though in low desert and other extremely hot areas they appreciate light shade.

With so many species, some aloe connoisseurs have broken the genus down into a variety of different groups:

Creeping aloes hug the ground and have a spreading habit. A. distans, commonly known as jeweled aloe, is one of the most commonly grown of these. It grows 6-18 inches tall and many feet wide. It’s got blue-green leaves with white spots and red or yellow flowers. Another neat creeping aloe is A. mitriformis. It’s got fascinating thorns on the edges of its leaves.

Dwarf aloes grow just several inches tall, usually forming rosettes. They’re great for pots, edging and groundcovers and are probably the most commonly available type of aloe in this country. A. aristata is one of the most widely grown of this group, reaching 5-10 inches high and wide. It forms rosettes of 4-inch leaves with soft-white spines that end in threadlike white strings. It flowers orange-red atop clusters in winter. A. breviolia grows in low clumps of thick, blunt, gray-green leaves about 3 inches long with red flowers off and on all year. A. humilis has especially attractive blue-green leaves, and A. variegata (known as partridge-breast aloe or tiger aloe) has upright 6-inch leaves marked with white bands. It produces pink flowers off and on all year-round.

Grass-type aloes have long, narrow foliage with spines. These neat plants bloom as often as once a month, with the majority of their flowers appearing in early spring through late summer. They produce exotic-looking blooms of yellow, orange, pink, cream or red on tall spikes. Leaves are green or gray-green with spines along the edges.

Rambling aloes have thin, slender stems that are fleshier than some other stem types. They include A. ciliaris, one of the most widely grown in this country, with climbing, sprawling stems to 10 feet. It produces flower clusters with yellow-tipped red blooms up to 6 inches long throughout the year.

Single-stemmed aloes have one main stem and large leaves. You’ll often find the main stem covered with dried foliage remains.

Speckled aloes can be single or multistemmed with spots on top of or below their leaves.

Stemless aloes have short or no stems with leaves forming rosettes close to the ground. Flowers are usually simple but can be quite showy. This group includes the highly popular A. vera, as well as A. striata (coral aloe). This beauty bears broad, gray-green leaves with pink edges and produces coral- to orange-colored flowers in branched clusters from late winter through late spring.

Tree aloes, not surprisingly, are tall and look like trees – side branches and all. Certain species can even reach spectacular heights! A. arborescens, commonly known as candelabra aloe, octopus plant and torch plant, can reach 9 feet tall or more when mature! It’s got beautiful clusters of bright red flowers tipped in green-white. A. bainesii is an even taller tree aloe that can soar 30 feet or more! It’s got a heavy trunk and rose-pink flowers tipped green on 2-foot stalks atop the foliage.

With so many species to choose from, it may be hard to pick just one. Luckily, you don’t have to – gorgeous aloes are so tough and water wise, it’s practically a crime to limit yourself! Whether you live up North or way down South, pot one (or three) up, or plant a few in the ground for true desert beauty!