Greenish South African aloe, usually solitary, with a medium sized rosette of glaucous, incurved leaves and 3-4 branched inflorescences with bicolored flowers (usually red opening to yellow, but sometimes all yellow). Leaves turn grayish green to brown and close in with stress and drought. Floral bracts are imbricate in bud. Closely related to A. pienaarii and A. cryptopoda. May also be confused with A. lutescens, an offsetting plant.

There has been some discussion as to whether wickensii should be merged with cryptopoda, which has a nonoverlapping range (Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique). Aloe wickensii can be distinguished from cryptopoda by its larger overall size, more highly branched inflorescences, larger and differently shaped floral bracts, and different flower color. It can be distinguished from the related A. lutescens, which also makes bicolored flowers, by its usually solitary habit (lutescens normally offsets), shorter racemes, and brighter yellow flowers.

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