Overview of Small Aloes
Most people recognize the word aloe from the therapeutic, cosmetic, and medicinal properties of the leaf sap of Aloe vera. This is a commonly cultivated plant widely available almost anywhere plants are sold. Aloe vera has been in human cultivation for over 2,000 years and has likely been improved by selection of forms with greater therapeutic value throughout that period.
Aloe was initially classified in the Liliaceae, but today most taxonomists place it in Asphodelaceae (with asphodels and red hot pokers), though it is sometimes listed in Aloaceae (with a few other related succulent genera).
The genus Aloe is native to Africa, especially the drier areas of southern and eastern Africa and the neighboring island of Madagascar, and southern Arabia. The genus is large, with well over 400 named species, and new types are still being identified. Plants vary in size from massive, heavily branched trees over 60 feet tall to tiny ground-hugging plants barely an inch in diameter.
Aloe plants generally have highly succulent leaves, usually in a rosette pattern, though a few hold their leaves in a fan-like pattern, and several small species that live in grasslands have very slender, though still succulent, grass-like leaves.
Tubular to bell-shaped flowers are produced in loose to tight, cylindrical, conical, or head-like clusters (racemes) on branched or unbranched slender stalks and are predominantly various shades of pink to red, though orange and yellow colors are also common and white and green are also known. Bicolor flowers are not uncommon.
Leaves are often attractive, variously colored in hues of green, red, pink, and lavender, and ornamented with stripes, spots, bumps, and teeth.
Aloe species are popular with growers of cacti and succulents and other exotic houseplants. Medium to large species are usually adapted to full sun and require high light intensity to maintain healthy growth. Such large species are best left to those who live in mild climates where they can be grown continuously in the ground. Because of their interesting shapes and highly attractive flowers, they are popular landscaping plants in southern California and other relatively frost-free locations.
In nature, smaller Aloe species often grow partially shaded by rocks or other vegetation and these types are well suited for growing under lower light conditions. Generally, at least several hours of bright light daily are needed for ideal growth, colorful leaves, and more reliable flowering. No species will survive Wisconsin winters, so they must be grown as container plants. Containers are best kept outdoors during the summer and moved to a bright location indoors during prolonged cool, cloudy, wet weather and during fall and winter.
There are many small species and hybrids available. Some can be maintained for years in a 4 inch pot, while others will eventually grow to fill an 18 inch container. Many species produce offsets and eventually will form an attractive clump, while others stay solitary. Cuttings root readily.
Aloes have been the subject of hybridizers for years, and some interesting hybrids are available through specialty succulent plant nurseries. Newer, more exotic, and rarer hybrids can have a sizeable price tag. There are many dozens (or even hundreds) of named hybrids and they come in all sizes, from landscape specimens to tiny miniatures. Previously it required many years to propagate selected hybrids by normal vegetative techniques. Today, desirable hybrids can be quickly propagated in tissue culture labs.
Aloes are best grown in a well-drained potting mix, in a pot with a drainage hole. Do not allow the roots to remain continuously wet, and always allow the soil to dry between waterings. Most aloes are from summer rainfall areas and therefore are summer growers. In Wisconsin, even the smaller types can be given full outdoor sun in the summer, and, if the soil is very well drained, can tolerate frequent rains, especially during warmer summer months. When the weather is cool and cloudy they are best kept on the dry side, including during the winter when they are less actively growing.
Most aloes are very cold sensitive and need protection from prolonged temperatures below 50°F and definitely require protection from frost. During their winter rest period, smaller plants can be grown in a bright windowsill, though keep in mind they should not be allowed to suffer cold temperatures, so they are best relocated from a window sill during Wisconsin’s -30 °F winter nights.
Small aloe species and hybrids often bloom when only a few years old. Different species bloom at different times of the year, but many bloom in winter (January to March), providing a nice splash of color during a dull time of the year. Aloe plants are more likely to bloom if they get abundant light throughout the year, so be sure to provide them a bright location in winter. Given ideal conditions, some small species and hybrids bloom almost continuously for months on end, sending up new flower stalks when the old ones fade.
Small Aloe Species
Aloes can often be found in the mixed cactus and succulent offerings at chain stores. Many of these are generically labeled “Aloe species” or “Aloe hybrid” or are misnamed. Properly labelled species are available from reputable online cacti and succulent nurseries .
The following alphabetical list includes small and dwarf species aloes that are in cultivation, some more readily available than others. The list does not include hybrids. All listed species generally form clumps, though some, such as A. longistyla and A. parvula may be slow to do so.
| Species | Origin | Diameter (inches) | Notes |
| A. albiflora | Madagascar | 3 to 8 | |
| Aristaloe aristata (= A. aristata) | South Africa | 3 to 8 | |
| A. bakeri | Madagascar | 3 to 8 | |
| A. bellatula | Madagascar | 3 to 8 | |
| A. bowiea | South Africa | Under 3 | |
| A. brevifolia | South Africa | 3 to 8 | |
| A. calcairophila | Madagascar | Under 3 | Uncommon, somewhat challenging to grow |
| A. descoingsii, A. descoingsii subsp. augustina | Madagascar | Under 3 | |
| A. droseroides | Madagascar | Under 3 | Uncommon, somewhat challenging to grow |
| A. florenceae | Madagascar | Under 3 | Uncommon |
| A. fragilis | Madagascar | Under 3 | Uncommon |
| A. haworthioides | Madagascar | Under 3 | |
| A. humilis | South Africa | Under 3 to 8 | |
| A. inexpectata | Madagascar | Under 3 | Uncommon, somewhat challenging to grow |
| A. juvenna | Kenya | Under 3 | |
| A. krapohliana ssp. dumoulinii | Namibia | Under 3 to 8 | Uncommon |
| A. longistyla | South Africa | 3 to 8 | Uncommon |
| A. parvula | Madagascar | Under 3 | |
| A. pseudoparvula | Madagascar | Under 3 to 8 | Uncommon |
| A. rauhii | Madagascar | Under 3 to 8 |
Author: Dan Mahr, University of Wisconsin—Madison
Reviewers: Allen R. Pyle, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, Bruce Spangenberg, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, UW—Madison Extension
Revised: June 2026
All photographs © Daniel L. Mahr
