Small, tough, drought-resistant aloe from South Africa and Namibia with distinctive patterned green leaves that are V-shaped in cross section. Spineless. Flowers are red, rarely yellow. May be solitary or clumping.

This plant, among others, is known in South Africa as "kanniedood" (cannot die). Yet another example of a succulent that lives forever (in name anyway) to go along with Sempervivum and the siemprevivas (liveforevers), which also include a number of Sempervivum-like plants. For a long-lived garden aloe, provide excellent drainage and do not overwater.

Drought resistant. Widespread in habitat and variable in leaf shape, but not flowers.

This species absorbed the former Aloe ausana, a plant with long underground stolons from a particular winter rainfall area of Namibia. Aloe variegata was recently moved to the new genus Gonialoe ("angle aloe", presumably referring to the leaf shape), along with the former Aloe dinteri and Aloe sladeniana, smaller plants from Namibia which are uncommon in cultivation. These aloes have leaves that are V-shaped in cross section, flowers with outer tepals fused more than halfway, and relatively large fruits. The description of this new genus placed it closest to Tulista (ex-Haworthia spp.) and Aristaloe (ex-Aloe aristata).

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