Plant in a well-draining soil in full to part sun in coastal gardens but best given some part day shade in hotter inland locations and irrigate occasionally to infrequently. Tolerates light frosts. Great as a rock garden or container plant. It is attractive and noted to thrive in cultivation.

Gasteria disticha comes from the southern parts of the Great Karoo below the Great Escarpment in the Western Cape Province). It is similar to Gasteria brachyphylla which grows in the Klein Karoo and has larger flowers and a smooth leaf surface. Gasteria disticha was one of the first species to be collected and reached Europe under the name Aloe disticha. The name for the genus comes from the Greek word 'gaster' meaning "stomach", in reference to the swollen shape of the base of the flower and the specific epithet references the distichous arrangement of its leaves.

We received seed of this plant from Brian Kemble, curator or the Ruth Bancroft Garden in 2008 who noted the seed was collected near Ashton, a small town in the Western Cape in South Africa at the foot of the Langeberg mountain range. Pictures on this page courtesy of Brian Kemble. 

The information about Gasteria disticha displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.