This is a tall, slender aloe, 2-3 m tall, occasionally reaching up to 5 or 6 m high. It has large rosettes of gracefully recurved leaves. It may be single-stemmed or branched and occasionally bears numerous small plantlets on the otherwise smooth stems.

It has large rosettes of gracefully recurved leaves. It may be single-stemmed or branched and occasionally bears numerous small plantlets on the otherwise smooth stems. The leaves are bright green to yellowish-green and may be up to 700 mm in length. The leaf margin is armed with firm white teeth. The leaf sap is clear with a strong, rhubarb-like smell. The old dried leaves form a 'skirt' around the stem, below the rosette of leaves.

Showy, branched inflorescences have up to 4 flowerheads held above the leaves. The flowers are usually orange or pinkish-red, but a yellow form is also known. Up to three inflorescences may be borne from each rosette. It flowers in autumn and winter, from May to July.