How to grow Aloe Vera in Australia

Give aloe full sun to bright light and fast-draining gritty or cactus soil, in the ground in warm zones or a pot anywhere. Water deeply then let the soil dry right out, easing off in cool weather to avoid rot.

At a glance

Difficulty: Beginner
Sun: Full sun
Water: 1 litres a week, watered every 7 days
Spacing: 40 cm
Time to harvest: 365 days (about 1 year)
Soil pH: 6 to 8
Frost tolerance: Frost tender

When to sow by region

Region	When to sow	Regional note
South East Queensland	All year
Northern Rivers NSW	All year
Sydney & Coastal NSW	September to March	Plant offsets Sep to Mar. Cold wet winter soil rots new plants and western Sydney frosts scar the leaves, so use a pot or a spot under the eaves.
Melbourne & Victoria	September to March	Plant Sep to Mar in a sunny, well drained spot or a pot. Melbourne frosts run roughly mid May to mid September and damage the leaves, so move pots under cover for winter.
Adelaide & SA	September to March	Plant Sep to Mar in a sunny, well drained spot or a pot. Frosts from June to late August, worst in the Hills, damage the leaves, so shelter plants or move pots under cover for winter.
Perth & WA	September to March	Plant Sep to Mar in a sunny, sharply drained spot or a pot. Cold wet winter soil rots new plants, so hold off planting from April to August.
Tasmania	Not suited	Unsuitable outdoors. Frost turns aloe to mush. Sunny windowsill pot only.
Canberra & ACT	Not suited	Not viable outdoors; frost destroys plants. Grow in a pot and move under cover for winter.
North Queensland	All year
Darwin & Top End	All year

Varieties

Common Aloe Vera

Companion planting

Good companions

Succulents
Herbs

Harvest and storage

Harvest tip

Cut outer mature leaves at the base once they are thick, plump and at least 20cm long. Slice from the outside in and the plant keeps pushing new leaves from the centre.

Storage

Cut leaves store in fridge for 1 to 2 weeks. Gel freezes well in ice cube trays.