Aloe reitzii var. vernalis is a succulent that reaches about 500 mm high, usually stemless or rarely with a stem. Leaves are tightly packed, arranged in a circle, long, broad at the base, up to 120 mm wide. Leaf surfaces smooth or sometimes a line of thorns appears near the tip of the lower leaf surface. Leaf margins armed with sharp reddish brown teeth, that are 3 mm long.

Simple inflorescence in juvenile plants, whereas it can be branched up to 4 times in mature plants. Flowers are neatly packed and pointing downwards, curved, narrow and tubular, up to 50 mm long, dark red, but gradually turning yellow. Plants flower in late winter to spring (August to September). The mature fruits are very small, 15 mm long and 10 mm in diameter. When the fruits are dry, they split open to release brown to black, mature seeds. 

Aloe reitzii var reitzii differs from this variety in having larger floral bracts and larger fruits (25 mm long), and it flowers in late summer (February to March).