This very slow growing succulent has mostly solitary stemless rosettes to 6 to 10 inches wide with up to 10, but usually fewer, triangular-shaped 4 to 8 inch long gray-green leaves that are covered in silvery white scale-like hairs (trichomes) so that the plant looks almost completely white. These leaves twist and curl as they recurve downward and have large claw-like recurved spines along the margins. Mature plants can send up a spike 2 to 3 feet tall in summer with orange-yellow tubular flowers scattered near the tip - these flowers have extra floral nectarines that drip sticky nectar to attract birds.
