From the Western Cape Province of South Africa, Gasteria carinata var. carinata has hard, waxy, spotted leaves, forming a slowly spiralling rosette about ten to twelve inches across. Well grown these are very pretty plants, the leaves shine like they've been buffed with wax. Over winter in the greenhouse they can turn a lovely reddish brown. Below is a picture taken in April, with the plant still retaining some of it's winter color. In time they offset producing colonies. The flowers are pretty typical of Gasterias, pretty pink bells, born on a tall stalk in spring.