It is a common species and is found from Steinkopf to the Olifants River, growing from the coastal flats eastwards onto the stony, lower slopes of the first terrace, usually in heavy soils and often in the shade of low succulent shrubs.

The leafblades may be hairy or glabrous, canaliculate and marked with maroon spots and bars on the abaxial surface.

The leaf margins, occasionally edged in red, are strongly crisped or crinkled, ranging from throughout their length, to near the base only.

Fruits are up to 20 mm diameter, pink and pulpy when ripe, holding from one to four dark-red seeds.

Bulbs of H. crispus, unusually for winter rainfall species, have tunics whose edges form horizontal girdles, instead of the normal distichous arrangement.