It can be distinguished by its paler, wider, recurved leaves, and its taller, more sparsely branched growth form.

Its round, bright yellow flowers are pendant, and hang down below the rosette (unlike those of the other tree aloes).

It is found around the border between Namibia and South Africa, where its natural habitat is upper mountain slopes, in the arid winter-rainfall Richtersveld shrubland.

It requires full sun, extremely well-drained rocky mineral soil, and very dry conditions.

In habitat, it grows on rocky slopes in a desert region which receives its sparse rainfall predominantly in the winter.