L. schwantesii receives its name from Gustav Schwantes, a prominent archaeologist and botanist of late 19th and 20th century.

The succulent also received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for being a resilient and easy to cultivate plant.

The plant has channels that run along the tops of its leaves.

Leaves are usually grey with tinges of red, blue pink, brown, or green.

Its flowers are small-medium in size and yellow in color.