This stemless, medium-sized, green plant produces a colourful display of two-tone (bright red to white) flowers from mid winter to spring. The open flowers may have a pastel orange wash into the white – quite a beautiful flower. The shortish, upright racemes are carried on multiple inflorescences that open their flowers in close succession, thus creating an intense splash of colour, whether it is planted in a rockery or a pot/container. The flowers are carried at a medium height, allowing ‘Impala’ to be placed towards the front of the rockery.
The green leaves are lined with widely spaced pale spines. Sometimes single spines occur randomly on the leaf upper or lower surface. Occasional blotching on the leaves does not affect the growth or flowering of the plant.
The plant may produce stem shoots at ground level. It is recommended that they be removed by a clean cut close to the main stem. This will aid the plant’s flower production, result in a better plant shape and limit access to pests and diseases that target soft, young growth. The plant could divide its rosette upon maturity, but is generally not in a great hurry to do so.
Updated 24 October 2023.