Aloe Vera

Aloe vera

succulent
houseplant

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to people (low severity)Pets: Toxic to pets

Hazardous parts

leaf latex/outer rind

Preparation

Not a food plant. The yellow latex under the leaf skin can irritate skin and upset the stomach; NC State rates toxicity low.

Hazard type

gastrointestinal upset (low severity) if ingested, skin irritation from latex

Hazard route

ingestion of unprocessed latex/rind; skin contact with latex

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

ASPCA: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses. Toxic Principles: Saponins, anthraquinones. Clinical Signs: Vomiting (not horses), lethargy, diarrhea. For people, see the hazard information below. NC State's plant-toxicity data corroborates from the human-poisoning side: Poison Severity Low, Poison Toxic Principle Anthraquinone glycoside, Poison Part Leaves, Poison Symptoms 'Poisonous through ingestion or dermatitis; abdominal cramping, diarrhea, red urine; skin irritation from latex': also flags contact dermatitis as a route, not just ingestion, which ASPCA's page doesn't call out separately for pets but is worth keeping in mind for skin contact generally.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: 10a-12b per NC State Extension (year-round outdoors); UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions states zones 8-11: shown both. Grown as a houseplant, or moved outdoors for summer only, outside these ranges.
Water needs: low
Mature size: Roughly 1-2 feet tall and 1-2.5 feet wide (NC State); UF/IFAS gives up to about 2 feet tall.
Family: Asphodelaceae (older sources, including ASPCA's current page, list the pre-reclassification family Liliaceae)
Where it comes from: Disputed among sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions states Africa; NC State Extension states the Arabian Peninsula. Both cited rather than resolved.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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