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 displayed on this page about Gasteria disticha is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.