They are small evergreen rhizomatous perennials. These are desert plants that can tolerate poor conditions.
The leaves are stiff, fleshy, sword-like, and are slightly crescent-shaped in cross-section. They can grow up to 1.5 m long in good condition. The leaves are dull green in colour with paler cross-banding pattern that gives a mottled appearance.
Flowers are in white spikes.
It can be propagated by leaf cutting.
