Eucomis bicolor is a summer-growing, deciduous bulbous plant, often growing in clumps. Leaves  have purple spots at the base and purplish red, wavy margins. The unbranched inflorescence is spotted with a large overhanging tuft of floppy leafy bracts with a reddish purple margin. The purple margins may not occur if the plant grows in shade. Flowers have an unpleasant smell, are closely packed together, facing downwards, with either white, green or mauve tepals, which have purple edges or purple in the centre; the stamens are also purple.

Plant in full sun in a compost-rich mixture and water well in summer.

It is dormant in winter.