It is a perennial Stapelioid succulent, commonly known as "Dragon horns" for its particular angular shape, or "Persian carpet" for the peculiar pattern of its flower. It easily branches into dense green cushions. It has stems up to 30 cm long, ranging in color from light green to reddish spotted with brown, covered with numerous tubercles with thorn-like teeth. In summer, its beautiful large flower of about 10-13 cm in diameter blooms (hence its name 'grandis'), which is of a creamy yellow color, densely covered with red-burgundy streaks and with bright yellow tips; the upper part of the flower is covered with long purple hairs.