The giant tree aloe (Aloe barberae) grows tall and wide. The bare trunk, a medium brown and rough to the touch, thickens each year.
The plant drops its dead leaves, leaving a clean trunk. Young tree aloes grow one solitary stem or trunk; branches appear later in life.
The leaves of younger tree aloes are 18 to 22 inches long. They have a rubbery texture with small teeth on the outer leaf margin. On more mature specimens, the leaves are somewhat smaller at 12 to 18 inches long.
The flowers of the giant tree aloe are peachy orange and form a cylindrical spike. Unlike the aloe vera, whose sap is known for its healing powers, the sap of Aloe barberae can cause a skin rash.
The giant tree aloe can be seen in bloom in the desert biome at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
— Barbara Arnold, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens