The physical appearance of this aloe varies greatly depending on environment, and consequently various sub-populations have previously often been mistaken for being separate species.

The thick, fleshy leaves often curve inwards during times of drought – making the rosette look rather like a mitre (until recently this species was known as Aloe mitriformis because of this resemblance).

The red flowers appear on stalks, which (befitting the variable nature of this species) vary from being rounded to being cone-shaped.

These resilient plants tend to prefer flat, rocky places but it is not uncommon to see them hanging on vertical cliff faces.

A very tough and compact species, it can be grown on embankments, rocky slopes and walls, and it easily survives through both very hot summers and snow in the winter.