A massive, single-stemmed tree aloe that typically grows up to 3 meters (10 feet) tall, but can exceptionally reach heights of 5 to 6 meters (16–20 feet) in the wild. The central trunk is prominently swathed in a dense "skirt" of persistent dried, withered leaves.
A compact, architectural rosette crowns the top of the trunk. The thick, deeply channeled, dark green leaves can reach 1 meter (3.3 feet) in length and arch downward elegantly. They take on striking reddish-purple hues during periods of drought or cold.
Young plants are heavily armed with sharp thorns across the surfaces of their leaves to deter grazing animals. As the tree grows taller and out of reach, these surface prickles disappear, leaving teeth only along the leaf margins.
