Plants with stems up to 3 m long, solitary, arborescent. Leaves in a dense rosette, numerous (more than 10), broadly lanceolate, 70-100 cm long, 12-15 cm wide, spreading, dull waxy-green, with few to many sharp spines on both surfaces; margins with sharp teeth, 4-6 mm long, 10-20 mm apart. Inflorescence to 100 cm long, 5-8-branched; individual flower stalks 4-5 mm long; perianth 30-34 mm long, orange to red.

A large species suitable for specimen planting in dry climate landscapes. In S Africa the leaves are harvested for 'bitter aloes'.

S Africa.

A. africana Mill. from S Africa has stems up to 4 m long, solitary, arborescent. Leaves in a dense rosette, numerous (more than 10), broadly lanceolate, 50-65 cm long, 6.5-12 cm wide, spreading to recurved, dull green, with a few spines on both surfaces; margins with sharp teeth 4-5 mm long, 5-15 mm apart. Inflorescence to 80 cm long, 1-4 branched; individual flower stalks 5-6 mm long; perianth 45-55 mm long, yellow to orange-yellow. A large aloe well suited to dry climate landscaping. Frost tender.

A. marlothii Berg. from S Africa has stems up to 4 m long, solitary, arborescent. Leaves in a dense rosette, numerous (more than 10), broadly lanceolate, 70-150 cm long, 17-25 cm wide, spreading to recurved, dull green to waxy blue, with a few to many spines on both surfaces; margins with sharp teeth 3-4 mm long, 10-15 mm apart. Inflorescence to 80 cm long, 20-30 branched; individual flower stalks 4-5 mm long; perianth 30-35 mm long, orange to orange-yellow. Syn. A. spectabilis Reyn. A large species well suited to dry climates.

Source: Conran, J.; Forster, P. (2005). Asphodelaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.