Species guide

Aloe vera

Toxic if eaten
Aloe vera
Photo: Michael Bakker Paiva · CC BY

How to recognise it

A succulent rosette of thick, fleshy, gray-green leaves with toothed edges and a clear gel inside.

Is it dangerous?

The clear inner gel is widely used on skin, but the whole plant — especially the yellow latex just under the skin — is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten and can upset stomachs.

What to do

Keep pets from chewing it. Never rely on a photo to decide a plant is safe to use or consume — confirm with a professional.

Never decide what's safe to eat or touch from a photo or a web page. Identification here is for learning and curiosity only. For anything you might eat, handle or that could harm you or a pet, consult a qualified local expert — and seek medical or veterinary care if exposure has happened.

Recorded 4,872 times in the wild worldwide.

Think you've spotted one?

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