For most of us, Aloe Vera is a familiar plant, and its gel has several domestic uses, but Aloe Ferox is not a plant we frequently hear about.
The Aloe Ferox is not usually grown as a houseplant, and most of us probably do not know how this plant looks like.
Well, it's just another variety of Aloe plants that grow in similar desert-like conditions.
This guide will highlight the features of the Aloe Ferox and differentiate between the two types of Aloe.
So, I'm sure you will get to know more about these two varieties in detail.
What Is Aloe Ferox?
Originally from South Africa, the Aloe Ferox, also known as Cape Aloe, is a large, eye-catching Aloe plant that is commonly found in arid and mountainous regions of South Africa.
The name Ferox means fierce in Latin, referring to the spiky leaves of this Aloe.
The plant is known for the transparent and bitter gel that it secretes during its lifecycle.
Apart from Lesotho and South Africa, the Aloe Ferox is rarely found elsewhere.
Growing as tall as 10 feet in height (3m), the Ferox consists of only one stem that is covered with leaves and rosettes at the crown.
The rosette is deep green and reddish-brown.
The leaves of this Aloe grow up to 1m and are covered with a brown shade near its spine.
Like the Aloe Vera, Aloe Ferox needs lots of sunlight, well-drained soil, and good irrigation to grow well.
The Aloe Ferox is a drought-tolerant plant, though, and can survive for many days without water.
Now, let's take a quick look at the details of the common Aloe Vera plant.
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe Vera is a prickly, attractive plant that is commonly grown as a houseplant.
The fleshy leaves of the Aloe Vera secrete a beneficial gel that has several household uses.
This plant typically grows in hot, arid regions around the world.
The Aloe Vera has adapted to living in any conditions around the world as long as it gets enough sunlight.
It is also the perfect starter plant as it does not require much watering.
However, it does face issues when you don't offer a suitable environment to this plant.
I have written an in-depth guide on the common problems of the Aloe Vera plant.
If you are interested to learn more about it, you can read the guide here.
Aloe Ferox vs. Aloe Vera - The Differences
There are a few differences between both these types of Aloe plants.
One of the main differences is that the Aloe Ferox is much older than the Aloe Vera.
That's true!
The Ferox has also been in use for a longer time than Aloe Vera.
Although we do not get to hear much about this variety, it's commonly used in some communities.
Now, let's check out some other differences between these two plants.
1. Location
Aloe Ferox grows particularly in one region of the world: a specific area of South Africa that stretches from the eastern to the western cape.
The Aloe Vera is commonly grown as a houseplant almost everywhere across the globe can get enough sunlight.
Although the Aloe Ferox can grow in US hardiness zone 10, it is not a commonly grown house plant.
You won't find this plant in most of the garden centers and nurseries that exhibit indoor plants.
2. Strength
The gel of Aloe Ferox is much stronger than the Aloe Vera.
Even the amino acids that the Ferox contains are twice as strong as its relative, Aloe Vera.
The sap of the Aloe Ferox is also more bitter than that of the Aloe Vera.
3. Gel Consistency
The Aloe Vera's gel is soft, translucent, and loses all its color and thickness once it is extracted.
The gel of the Aloe Ferox remains thick.
In the following section, I have shared some similarities between these two Aloe plants.
So, let's check them out as well.
Aloe Ferox vs. Aloe Vera - The Similarities
The Aloe Ferox and Aloe Vera belong to the same family, and despite one of them being a common houseplant and the other a wild Aloe, the plants have similar features.
They share the exact maintenance requirements and secrete a gel that has nearly identical components.
1. Care
Aloe Ferox and Aloe Vera both have similar care requirements as they are both succulents and belong to the same plant family.
These Aloes need sandy, grainy soil to grow, plenty of sunlight and dry conditions to grow in.
These plants also prefer minimal watering, which is a common trait of plants that do well in deserts.
2. Gel
Both these plants have thick leaves that contain a gel that has multi-purposes.
The gel of the Aloe Ferox has always been used in the South African region for various purposes.
However, we don't get to see it being used in other parts of the world.
Similarly, Aloe Vera offers a multi-purpose gel that has many benefits in different fields.
3. Structure
Both these plants form a rosette-like structure, which continues to grow throughout their lifetime.
The plant produces many new leaves during its lifecycle, and all these leaves are filled with a gel-like substance.
Alright, let's quickly have a look at the FAQs below.
FAQs
The Aloe Ferox has unique features such as a single, long stem that grows up to a height of nearly 10 feet.
The thick and plump leaves are set in a rosette formation.
The leaves are lined with reddish-brown colored spines on the upper and lower margins.
The National Environment Management Act protects some areas to encourage the conservation of wildlife and promote the biological diversity of South Africa.
The Aloe Ferox grows in the regions that are protected.
However, the plant is solely not protected.
The Cape Aloe is another name for Aloe Ferox.
Aloe Ferox goes by several names, the most common one being bitter Aloe.
Other names include red Aloe and tap Aloe.
The Aloe Ferox needs well-drained soil, plenty of sunlight, and regular irrigation to grow appropriately.
Like the Aloe Vera, Aloe Ferox can survive without water for long periods, too.
These plants are relatively drought-tolerant.
Direct sunlight throughout the day is not suitable for aloe plants.
Direct sunlight can cause leaves to burn if left exposed for long hours.
The gel within the leaves tends to dry up and turn the leaves yellow.
Place your aloe plant near a window, or anywhere it can receive lots of light but not direct sunlight.
Over To You
Well, I hope you enjoyed the comparison of Aloe Ferox vs. Aloe Vera.
Even though both these plants look similar, they are quite different in their own ways.
Now, in case you have any queries or want to share more insights on these plants, do let me know in the comments below.
Meanwhile, do consider sharing this guide with your friends and family if you liked it.
Leo Boersma says
Hi there
Thanks for the detailed explanation of difference between Aloe Vera and Aloe Ferox, but it has left me somewhat confused, seeing I have a picture of one that I downloaded as shown here, and it does not have the long trunk, but does have the spotted leaves, can you reassure me I have the correct Aloe Ferox, see here, no would not allow me to insert pic of Aloe Ferox with spotted leaves without the long trunk, closer to ground Thanks Leo Australia
Harshad says
Hi Leo,
It seems you have a spotted Aloe plant, which is also known as Lace Aloe Vera.
The Aloe Ferox variety does have a long trunk that grows further as the plant gets older.
Please send me a photo of your plant here so that I can help you identify this Aloe variety.