It remains as a solitary rosette, rarely offsetting, and tends to grow slightly underground, with only the flat, truncated leaf tips appearing at the surface of the ground.

However it can be distinguished by its brown to dark green colour, and its pad-like leaf tops, which are usually very rough (though occasional populations are smooth).

It is extremely unusual in that – while it greatly resembles the "retuse" haworthias – it is actually a member of the entirely different genus Haworthiopsis, and seems to be a case of parallel evolution in a similar environment.

[2][3] This species occurs in a small area around the Springbokvlakte farm, in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

It tends to grow in shady, sheltered areas among rocks and underneath bushes – often covered in sand, pebbles and grit.