Large, slow-growing shrub or small tree with glaucous green leaves and bright yellow flowers. From a dry winter rainfall climate. An ideal low-maintenance plant for dry winter-rainfall (Mediterranean) climates like southern California. Intolerant of excess summer water. Do not overwater, especially in summer. Plant in full sun with excellent drainage. Provide strong light to young plants during winter.

As the name would suggest, this species branches early and often, growing broad through a proliferation of thin stems that shoot off starting just above ground level. Old plants can be quite striking. This aloe can be grown with some difficulty from cuttings started in the fall. Seeds are large and plants can be raised without difficulty from seed. Seedlings may branch very early, at the 4 inch pot stage, and they may have 0-8 branches by 1 year of age. Under ideal conditions they may reach 3 gallon size in their second year and be ready to go in the ground before age 2.

Found in the Richtersveld of northwestern South Africa, just into Namibia. Closely related to, and formerly a subspecies of A. dichotomum, a much larger tree with a distinct trunk from the same general area. Recently moved with that species and a few other tree aloes (including the somewhat similar A. pillansii) to the genus Aloidendron based on DNA studies.

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