Family: Asphodel (Asphodelacea) Hardy to zone 9 to 11. Perennial, clustering succulent, stemless or with fleshy stems, flowering yellow or orange to 3 feet. Native to Arabia. The plant is the source of over 75 nutritive and medicinally active compounds, including the cell-proliferant known as allantoin. Well-adapted to dry and low-light conditions, these do well on the windowsill or in a shady greenhouse. A fast-draining soil and infrequent watering are a must. To plant the seeds, prepare a small (4 x 4 inch or so) pot filled nearly to the brim with cactus mix. Planting 5 seeds per pot is about right. Lay the seeds on the surface and cover with a thin layer of coarse, sharp sand to keep them in place. Then fill the pot to the brim with white pumice. Keep the pot very warm (70 to 75 degrees F) and partially shaded. Lightly mist the planting daily. Germination occurs in 1 to 3 weeks (see gallery for a photo of seedlings poking up through the pumice). See page 191 of “Growing Plant Medicine Vol 1” for more specific directions on starting aloes from seed. Allow the seedlings to grow in close association for 6 months or more, then individuate to 6-inch pots. 10 Seeds/pkt., Open Pollinated, Untreated, NO GMO’s
