Prized for its colorful flowers and attractive foliage, Aloe arborescens (Torch Aloe) is an evergreen succulent shrub with branching stems holding many decorative rosettes. Each rosette consists of widely spreading, gray-green, sword-shaped leaves with conspicuous pale teeth along their edges. In winter, large, conical, bright red to orange flower spikes are borne in profusion above the foliage, brightening up the dull winter garden. The inflorescences are usually unbranched, with two or more arising from a single rosette.

Hardy and attractive, Aloe aristata (Torch Plant) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming charming rosettes, packed with fleshy, lance-shaped, incurved leaves with tufted tips. Pale green in the shade, the leaves turn dark green in full sun. Each leaf exhibits scattered white spots, raised near the base and becoming spiny towards the tips. They are lined with white teeth along the edges and tipped with a soft white spine. In winter, conical clusters of tubular orange-red flowers are borne in profusion above the foliage, 20 in. high (50 cm), brightening up the garden. This Aloe offsets readily to form clumps. Low-growing, it is an excellent choice for containers thanks to its perfectly formed rosettes and bright flowers.

Beloved for its attractive foliage, Aloe brevifolia (Short-Leaf Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming a carpet of decorative rosettes, 4in. wide (10 cm), with broadly triangular spreading fleshy leaves. Pale blue in light shade, the leaves turn rosy-pink and golden-yellow in full sun, creating a very pretty display. Each leaf exhibits white spines along the edges and a few along the keel of the lower surface. In late spring, spikes of orange tubular flowers are borne in profusion above the foliage, brightening up the garden. This Aloe offsets readily to form a tight colony.

One of the most Ornamental Aloes, Aloe broomii (Snake Aloe) is a robust, evergreen succulent perennial forming a large, short-stemmed, dense rosette of light green leaves, 1 ft. long (30 cm). They are adorned with reddish brown teeth along the edges, which curl interestingly along the outer edges of each leaf. This Aloe develops a stunning, densely flowered, candle-like inflorescence, 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm), in which the buds and pale lemon flowers are covered by white long bracts. Snake Aloe is usually solitary, but occasionally the heads divide to form groups of up to 3 rosettes. It is an ideal water-wise plant and it is frost resistant.

A stemless Aloe, Aloe capitata var. quarziticola is an evergreen succulent perennial forming a beautiful open rosette of fleshy, tapered, gray-green leaves, up to 18 in. long (45 cm). Milky blue-gray in cloudy conditions, the leaves turn purple-tinged with brighter exposure. They are lined with small, triangular, dark red teeth. This Aloe produces a branched flower stalk, up to 3 ft. tall (90 cm), topped with a rounded head of flowers, tubular at the bud stage and widening at the mouth when they open, to become narrowly bell-shaped. The buds are a vibrant glossy orange, while the open flowers are bright golden yellow. This Aloe can endure freezing spells if these are not too severe.

Native to South Africa, Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe) is a large and showy, evergreen succulent forming a dense rosette of blue-green, lance-shaped leaves, often flushed with rose, up to 3 ft. long (90 cm). Each leaf is adorned with dark brown spines along the edges and on the leaf surfaces, especially on the lower surface. The old leaves remain after they have dried, forming a 'petticoat' on the stem. Single-stemmed, Cape Aloe produces bright red-orange, tubular flowers with dark orange stamens protruding from the mouth. Long-lasting, they are held above the foliage in a very showy, large candelabra-like inflorescence with 5 to 8 branches.

Aloe hereroensis (Sand Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming single erect rosettes, or a small clump or rosettes of smooth, pale blue-green leaves that curve inwards and are often rose-colored or bronzed in the sun. The leaves are adorned with H-shaped whitish spots arranged in transverse bands on the lower surface. Their margins are lined with small, sharp, red-brown spines. This Aloe produces flattened, branched racemes, wider than long, of usually scarlet to deep red flowers, rarely orange or yellow. Up to three branched inflorescences can arise from a single rosette.

Adding a majestic presence to the garden, Aloe marlothii (Mountain Aloe) is a large evergreen succulent forming a dense rosette of fleshy, grayish green leaves, up to 5 ft. long (150 cm), with a broad base tapering to a sharp point. They are covered with reddish-brown spines along the edges and randomly on their upper and lower surfaces. The old leaves remain after they have dried, forming a 'petticoat' on the stem. Single-stemmed, Mountain Aloe produces a spreading, branched panicle with up to 30 racemes borne more or less horizontally. The tubular flowers vary from orange-red to yellow or bright red.

One of the most floriferous Aloes in South Africa, Aloe microstigma (Cape Speckled Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming solitary or small clumps of beautiful rosettes of blue-green leaves, which turn reddish brown if suffering from environmental stress. The leaves are adorned with conspicuous white spots, which contrast nicely with the reddish teeth along the edges. This Aloe produces several unbranched spikes of flowers, 3 ft. tall (90 cm), that are red in bud and open to orange and yellow-orange. Sometimes noted for their bicolor look, the cheerful flowers brighten the dull winter landscape with their towering warm colors reminiscent of flames on candles.

Unique with its fan-like leaf arrangement, Aloe plicatilis (Fan Aloe) forms a remarkable shrub or small tree. At the end of branched stems, the fleshy, strap-shaped, round-tipped, blue-gray leaves, about 1 ft. long (30 cm), are stacked in pairs and are reminiscent of fans. Often the leaf tips display orange shades, adding further charm to the plant. Rather than clinging to the stems, the old leaves fall to the ground, exposing the attractive smooth gray trunk and branches. Many Fan Aloes remain shrub-like with sinuous branching patterns. Spikes of vermilion tubular flowers rise out of each leaf cluster on tall, solitary stems from late winter to spring.

Absolutely fascinating, Aloe polyphylla (Spiral Aloe) is a compact evergreen succulent valued for its foliage arranged in a perfect spiral pattern. The fleshy gray-green leaves form a tight rosette that becomes a beautiful spiral, either clockwise or counterclockwise, as the plant ages. A plant can count up to 150 leaves geometrically arranged in 5 ranks. The leaves are adorned with white to pale-green spines along their edges and a dark, purplish brown terminal spine at their tips. This Aloe rarely flowers. When it does in spring and early summer, its red to salmon-pink tubular blooms are borne on a branching spike which emerges above the foliage.

Aloe rubroviolacea (Arabian Aloe) is a particularly beautiful evergreen succulent forming rosettes of thick leaves which arch gracefully outward. Blue-green in partial shade, with contrasting reddish teeth and margins, the leaves get purple tinged in full sun, a coloration which intensifies to violet-red hues in winter. The leaves emerge from thick stems, which elongate over time and allow the head of this plant to sprawl, with offsets appearing around the base to form a small clump. Dense spires of red flowers are produced in winter atop unbranched flower stalks, up to 30 in. tall (75 cm), making a great show each year.

Aloe speciosa (Tilt-head Aloe) is a large and showy, evergreen succulent forming a decorative rosette of long and slender, blue-green leaves, often tinged pink at the tips and edges, up to 3 ft. long (90 cm). Each leaf is adorned with small, pale to deep red, soft teeth. The old leaves remain after they have dried, forming a 'petticoat' on the stem. Generally single-stemmed, Tilt-head Aloe produces a short, conical raceme, 20 in. tall (50 cm) densely packed with showy flowers. The buds are deep red when young and mature to green with white stripes. When the flowers open, the dark reddish brown stamens and style protrude conspicuously, providing a tri-color look. While the inflorescence is solitary, one rosette can produce up to 4 inflorescences.

More frost-hardy than most Aloes, Aloe striata (Coral Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming beautiful rosettes of flat broad leaves. Pale gray-green, the fleshy leaves turn pink in full sun or take on blue-gray hues in the shade. Toothless, the leaves exhibit subtle narrow stripes along their length and transparent pinkish red margins. In late winter into early spring, clusters of brilliant coral flowers are borne 2ft. (60 cm) above the foliage on tall candelabra stems, brightening up the dull winter garden. Up to three branched inflorescences can arise from a single rosette. Offsets will slowly appear around the base and form a small colony.

Resembling an octopus, Aloe vanbalenii (Van Balen's Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming striking stemless rosettes of long, deeply channeled, gracefully twisting, and curling leaves. Bright green with copper-red edges in the shade, the fleshy leaves turn orange or dark red shades in the full, hot sun with minimum water. Lined with reddish teeth, they emit cinnamon or musky fragrance when bruised or damaged. From winter to early spring, slender, conical, yellow to orange-yellow, tubular flowers are produced on unbranched spikes, 3 ft. high (90 cm). They are attractive to nectar-seeking birds and insects. This colony-forming Aloe makes a fantastic focal point in sunny borders or decorative containers.