Geography

• Native to the Mediterranean region and northern Africa, aloe vera can grow outdoors as far north as United States Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone 9. It prefers well drained soil in full to partial sun. In colder regions, aloe vera can grow as a houseplant in a south facing window.
  
  

Time Frame

• According to the Texas A&M University Extension, an aloe vera plant can live for four to seven years. In warm climates, it produces a flower spike in the spring which grows up to 3 feet tall and bears yellow, tubular blossoms. North of Zone 9, aloe vera can grow outdoors in the summer, but must be moved indoors with the approach of freezing temperatures.
  
  

Considerations

• According to the University of Arkansas, the greatest threat to aloe vera is excess water. If you grow aloe vera in a container, choose a pot with a drainage hole and water your plant only after the soil has dried. To avoid running out of leaves for medicinal use, slice off a 2-inch offset, allow it to dry for two to three days and transplant it into new soil.