Can grow in cool coastal full sun where foliage is often dark but best in part sun to light shade in a well-drained soil and irrigated only occasionally late spring to fall. Hardy to at least 25° F. This is a very attractive and unusual potted specimen plant.

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 was given by Gordon Rowley in 1955 to honor John Bates, a trolley-bus conductor in London who was an avid succulent collector. This species is the most northerly of the genus, growing from northern Natal to the Olifants River valley in north-eastern Transvaal. This variety was originally collected from the Barberton area in Mpumalanga but it has never been re-located so it is fortunate that the plant has become popular in cultivation. Our plants from the collection of Stockton, California Gasteria and Sansevieria collector Alice Waidhofer.  The information about Gasteria batesiana 'Barberton' displayed on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources we consider reliable. We will also relate those observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and in other gardens that 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 who has additional information, particularly when they share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.