Cat's tail aloe (Aloe castanea) features dark orange-brown flowers that adorn the curved flower spike in mid-winter. The gray-green leaves have darker teeth along the edges and can reach 5 feet in length. With age, this single-trunked aloe species can grow to 12 feet in height. The nectar is a rich chestnut brown color, which is distinctive in the genus.

The specific epithet (species name) is derived from the Latin name for chestnut trees — castanea.