The name Chlorophytum is derived from the Greek words, chloros, meaning ‘green’ and phyton meaning ‘plant’. The species name capense means ‘of or from the Cape’, referring to the southern provinces of South Africa. This species is also known as the Cape spider plant, because it is similar to the spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, so named for its rounded shape and long arching leaves with tips touching the ground, so that it resembles a spider. Chlorophytum capense was previously referred to as Anthericum elatum and Asphodelus capensis.

Chorophtyum is a large and taxonomically complex genus comprising of 203 accepted species distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, mostly in Africa, south Asia and Australia. Plants are evergreen perennials with a thick rhizomatous root system. The best known species is Chlorophytum comosum, commonly called spider plant or hen-and-chickens, that is grown as an ornamental garden plant, pot plant and indoor plant throughout the world. Chlorophytum capense and C. comosum look very similar and are easily mistaken for each other, however C. capense does not produce plantlets on its flowering stem, which are characteristic of C. comosum.