Aloidendron barbarea, the tree aloe, is a small to medium sized succulent tree with a thickset, often tall trunk and rounded crown with a brown rough bark. It can reach a height of 6m and must be planted where it has enough space to develop. The beauty lies in the strong lines of the stems and the flowers are not very impressive. The leaves are long, succulent and carried in terminal rosettes and dark green in colour with small brown tipped teeth along the margin. The flowers are erect, pink to orange often tipped with green and about 20-30mm long aloe clusters. The tree flowers in winter or early summer (May to August).
It can withstand mild frost and is not a plant for a small garden. It is a beautiful ornamental tree that makes a striking feature in any garden, it is often seen as live fence posts in rural areas. It attracts many birds to the garden.