Today it is grown in most subtropical and tropical locations, including the Caribbean, southern United States, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Many people also grow a small potted version indoors for use in healing minor burns and cuts.
Plant Description Aloe vera is a perennial plant with yellow flowers. Its tough, fleshy, spearlike leaves can grow up to 20 inches long, and the whole plant up to 4 feet high. Only the leaves are used for medicine, but different parts of the leaves are used for different purposes. The clear, thick gel that is most commonly associated with aloe vera comes from the inner part of the leaf. Between this gel and the outer skin of the leaf are some special cells that contain a bitter yellow juice.