A prolific miniature Aloe, Aloe 'Crosby's Prolific' is an evergreen succulent with attractive, stemless rosettes of lance-shaped, deep green leaves lined with long, translucent teeth along their edges. Its fleshy leaves take on red hues when exposed to bright light. Spikes of bright orange, tubular flowers are borne in profusion atop flowering stalks, 18 in. tall (45 cm), brightening up the garden. This Aloe offsets readily to form a large clump. It is easily propagated from cuttings.

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.

Regarded as one of the most attractive foliage Aloes, Aloe cameronii (Red Aloe) is an evergreen succulent with upright stems of open rosettes. The fleshy, gracefully curving leaves are a rainbow of colors ranging from green to a rich coppery red, depending on sun and water. In late fall to early winter, spikes of bright orange-red flowers are borne in profusion above the foliage, brightening up the garden. This Aloe provides a colorful focal point in the xeriscape. It is easily propagated from cuttings.

Incredibly eye-catching, Aloe dorotheae (Sunset Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming clumps of bright green rosettes in light shade but turning glossy bright red in full sun. The fleshy, shiny leaves are flecked with white and adorned with prominent teeth along their edges. In winter, spikes of greenish-yellow tubular flowers are borne in profusion above the foliage, brightening up the dull winter garden. This Aloe offsets readily to form a tight colony. Perfect as a groundcover, in undersea-themed succulent gardens or decorative containers.

Vigorous, Aloe nobilis (Golden Toothed Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming a carpet of decorative rosettes, 12in. wide (30 cm), with broadly triangular, fleshy leaves. Bright green in light shade, the leaves turn amazingly orange when in full sun, creating a very pretty display. Each leaf exhibits yellow to creamy-white teeth along the edges and a few inside which glow when backlit. In summer, spikes of bright orange tubular flowers are borne in profusion above the foliage to about 2 ft. tall (60 cm), brightening up the garden. This Aloe offsets profusely to form a large colony.

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.

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.

Well-known for the medicinal value of the juice of its leaves, Aloe vera (Barbados Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming clumps of rosettes of long, fleshy, narrow, light green leaves with whitish to reddish toothed margins. The leaves turn reddish purple when the plant is under drought stress. In spring and summer, long racemes of tubular greenish-yellow flowers are borne on 3ft. (90 cm) branched inflorescences above the foliage. The plump leaves of Aloe vera contain a gummy sap that has been used for cosmetic and skin care reasons for more than 2,000 years.