In time, the almost stemlessAloe vanbaleniiforms short, robust creeping stems, developing into dense groups of numerous rosettes, 300-600 mm tall. The soft-textured, deeply channelled (U-shaped in cross section), recurved leaves are 700–800 × 120–250 mm long, with the tips almost touching the ground. They are copper-red when exposed to full sun, with marginal teeth of the same colour and bright green when grown in shade. The leaves release a musty smell when damaged.
