Cyrtanthus ventricosus is a deciduous, bulbous plant reaching a height of 100-250 mm. Each winter the plants produce a tuft of linear leaves, 2-7 mm wide, which die back as the dry summer season approaches.

In general Cyrtanthus species from the dry areas of the Cape are difficult to grow and easily succumb to overwatering. They are best grown in pots which can be kept dry in summer and allow for the provision of good drainage, a necessity for successful cultivation. The seeds of Cyrtanthus have a short period of viability and are best sown as soon as they are harvested. As a true fire lily, C. ventricosus is best left to grow in the wild.

Each winter the plants produce a tuft of linear leaves, 2-7 mm wide, which die back as the dry summer season approaches.

terminal cluster of 1-12 narrowly trumpet-shaped, nodding flowers, 40-50mm long.

The pale to dark salmon or crimson flowers have a contrasting, darker crimson band on the midrib of each tepal (a member of the perianth that is not clearly differentiated into calyx or corolla). They are unscented and produce nectar which collects at the base of the tube. The six stamens are arranged in two whorls in which the outer filaments are somewhat longer than the inner. The anthers split open one to two days after the flower opens and then the three short lobes of the stigma become receptive a few days later.

Each flower remains open for approximately five to six days then finally loses turgor, becomes narrowly tubular and turns dull red. Individual plants in the population flower more or less at the same time and the entire flowering period lasts approximately two weeks. The three-chambered, inferior ovary, which has 40-60 ovules, develops into a capsule which takes about seven weeks to mature.