Aloe krapohliana is a small plant with comparatively big inflorescence. When not in bloom the grey rosette blends well with surrounding vegetation in the arid northwest.

Something of the horizontal bands that darken some of this aloe’s leaves is visible in the photo, like face camouflage for an infantryman on manoeuvres; not much use when the hat is red.

The flowers shout colour largely on their own. They are the neighbourhood beacons during the early winter months before the northwest region erupts in the annual floral excess. But that is a multi-species event participated in by a huge range of plant types, soon to be followed by summer heat and drought to tone it all down to grey again (Van Wyk and Smith, 2003; Reynolds, 1974; Jeppe, 1969).