It can be distinguished from its Haworthia relatives, by its rounded leaf tips and its dark colour.

This species is variable and has multiple different regional forms: Flowers appear in September and October.

A western form, inhabiting shale rocks near Oudtshoorn, is sometimes considered a separate species, Haworthia truteriorum.

It is smaller, dull-green, with silver lines or flecks on its leaves, which have more strongly toothed margins.

[2] An outlying population of similar plants in the Rooinek Pass, south of Laingsburg, is now usually classed as a separate species, Haworthia marxii.