Named after Rudolf Marloth, a German-born South African botanist, this species of aloe has an especially large robust head of stiff, grey-green leaves.

Flower colour varies a great deal, and ranges from yellow through orange (most common) to bright red.

The distinctively horizontal branches of its inflorescence is an easy way to distinguish this species from other aloes.

[3] Its distribution ranges from the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in Johannesburg, through eastern Botswana, northwards over the Soutpansberg to Zimbabwe and Malawi and eastwards through Eswatini and Mozambique to the coast.

This species grades through intermediate forms into Aloe spectabilis (Reynolds) of KwaZulu-Natal, and the two are now considered synonymous.