Small clumping Haworthia with tallish rosettes and leaves bearing many whitish, rounded tubercles. Rosettes may reach up to almost 5 inches in diameter (usually much smaller).

This species was formerly a subspecies and variety of the very similar, variable H. reinwardtii, which usually has more pronounced tubercles with flat (not rounded) tips. The ratio between stem diameter and leaf width is supposed to be diagnostic for these plants: H. coarctata about 1:1.7, H. reinwardtii about 1:1.2 (leaves much narrower relative to the stem width).

There are currently 2 named varieties in addition to the type: Haworthiopsis coarctata var. adelaidensis, with narrower (3cm) rosettes; Haworthiopsis coarctata var. tenuis with narrower rosettes (2.5cm) and longer stems (to 40cm). There is also a forma greenii (without tubercles).

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