Plants divide to form large, conspicuous clusters on the exposed cliffs. The yellowish green leaves grow spirally twisted, shading out the copious amounts of sunlight it receives, especially during periods of drought and the dry season, protecting the inner portion of the rosette. Plants are long-lived, with hard, firm leaves that wither from the base. The fleshy leaves become turgid after rain, storing sufficient moisture to get them through dry periods, an adaptation to the extreme, dry habitat. The leaves have an entire leaf margin, ending in a hard, sharp point that would deter cliff-adapted animals, such as the rock dassie (Procavia capensis) and chacma baboon (Papio ursinus). Compared to Haworthiopsis scabra var. scabra, which is not a cliff-dweller, grows in fynbos and succulent karoo, and is well camouflaged with leaves covered in dense tubercles, there is some reduction in armament, the clusters are conspicuous (not camouflaged), the leaves glabrous, with entire margins, in response to living undisturbed in the inaccessible cliff habitat in contrast to accessible fynbos and succulent karoo vegetation.

The ascending to spreading inflorescence carries flowers with a white corolla, that attract a flying insect, resulting in cross pollination. The capsules ripen in winter, releasing the small, angular seeds during the cool period when there is ample rain, allowing the seeds to germinate when they land on a suitable crevice. Germination is in 14–21 days.

Haworthiopsis scabra var. starkiana suckers freely from the base, forming dense, rounded clusters. Continual sprouting from the base represents an efficient vegetative backup dispersal strategy for this harsh cliff-face environment. Detached clusters or heads will also root if they fall into a crevice.