What is the difference between agave and aloe

It is also used as an ornamental plant. Interestingly Agave is used in the production of rope and string. Most widely-known agave species is azul blue agave and it is used in the production of tequila. Aloe, on the other hand, is consumed for medicinal purposes especially aloe vera.

The medical application of this plant goes back to the Middle Ages in which it was used as a laxative. Now it is primarily used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and to treat minor burns, Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD , lowering blood sugar, and skin care. The agave plant originated on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Interestingly it was used by Mayans. After the Spanish conquered Mexico, they brought the plant back to Europe where it was spread and flourished especially in Mediterranean coast.

During the 19th century, the plant became increasingly popular and it was exported to various regions around the world. Aloe originated across the world in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula and through northern Africa. Similar to Agave, Aloe was introduced to both China and Europe in the 17th century. Although they are being thrived almost everywhere in the world even as a potted plants, their charateristics remain the same.

This is due to their need for similar climates. The US Department of Agriculture has indicated that in America, aloes grow well in zones 9 through 11 while agave grow well in zones 9 and The leaves of both plants look very similar. Both have fleshy, pointed leaves with spines on them and they can both store water. But the internal structure of their leaves is completely different. The leaf of the agave is fibrous and a great source for producing rope and string.

The leaves also have an internal vascular structure. Aloe leaves are much different. If you take a closer look at the inside of Aloe leaves, it is more gelatinous, or gooey ,rather than a fibrous like Agave. The spines on these both plants serve the same purpose, which is to protect them from being eaten by herbivores. The flowers of both plants is another distinction between the two.

They flower in a tubular fashion with the bloom almost looking like spikes coming out of the center of the plant. This structure, called an inflorescence, is frequently larger than the plant itself. Aloe plants typically have flowers that are purple, red, orange, yellow, or white in color.

They bloom throughout the life of the aloe plant. Some of them even bloom year-round. Agave falls into this seasonal growth pattern, but Aloe has a different strategy. For Aloe, the growing season comes in the cool months of winter and ends with a flower in late winter or early spring. As a grower, these patterns are important to understand because a plant has different care needs during its growing and dormant seasons.

While a succulent needs access to nutrients and water in order to grow, a dormant succulent is not taking in water for growth and is more susceptible to rot. This is why, under outdoor, seasonal conditions, Aloe need supplemental water in the winter while Agave should be kept dry to prevent standing water.

Aloe vera , pink from stress at the end of a dry season, by Baja Costero Form It's easy to confuse Aloe and Agave at first glance, but there are some typical physical differences that can point you in the right direction. Thread Agave Agave Schidigera by Baja Costero Flowering Though both groups send up tall bloom stalks to unleash large, exotic flowers of red, orange, or yellow to attract pollinators, you are far more likely to see an aloe in bloom.

Aloe juvenna in bloom by Baja Costero Seasonality Most succulents use the warmer summer months to put on growth and then go partially or fully dormant in the winter. Hedgehog Agave Agave stricta with the remains of its bloom stalk by Baja Costero. Pets Pets and your succulents: What you should know. Plant Care How winter cold affects your succulents. Grow Lights Succulent grow light recommendations. Seeds Growing succulents from seed.

The story of Agave vs. Aloe vs. Yucca is an interesting one in the world of plant science. Although plants in the Aloe genus and plants in the Agave genus can appear very similar, the two plants are not closely related.

In fact, they are not even in the same plant family. Yucca itself is a different genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae the same as the garden asparagus plant. The genus Aloe thrives in U. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, while the genus Agave thrives in zones 9 and In fact, the Aloe and Agave plant story is a story of evolutionary convergence.

This means that the two plants evolved to have similar appearances and similar roles in the environment even though they don't share a common ancestor. Aloes evolved on the African continent south of the Sahara Desert. Both desert environments are similar, and as a result, both plants developed thick, pointed leaves with thorns and flowers that produce nectar that is attractive to pollinators like hummingbirds. For the most part, Agave plants are larger and spinier than Aloe plants, says Mountain Crest Gardens.

When a leaf is broken in two, an Aloe plant will break easily and reveal an inside filled with gel.