Aloe Vera

Photo credit: Lily Chen

Often planted as a popular household plant the Aloe vera has been used for medicinal purposes, often alleviating the symptoms of minor cuts or burns and promotes healing of the wound. Its leaves contain a clear, tasteless tissue that is chopped and added raw to beverages and desserts for its jelly-like consistence. The bitter, outer green layer of the leaf should be peeled away before consuming the inner flesh which is known as aloe vera gel. 

It grows best under direct sun in well-drained, porous soil but it also tolerates light shade. It is susceptible to fungal disease so try to keep the leaves dry and keep soil from splashing on the leaves.