Two varieties of Caputia scaposa are recognised; var. scaposa is only known from Badspoort in the Klein Karoo in the Western Cape to the Kei River in the Eastern Cape, growing on sandstone ledges of sheer cliffs or rocky hills mainly in quartzitic, sandstone-derived soils. They are often found on steep slopes, and dry river valleys. The vegetation consists mainly of Albany Thicket, however, at the Kei River it consists of Eastern Valley Bushveld (Mucina et al. 2006). At Badspoort plants grow in Gamka Thicket on sheer cliffs together with other succulents such as Bulbine ramosa, Tylecodon leucothrix, Albuca thermarum and Tromotriche choanantha.

Along the Kei River at its easternmost distribution, plants grow on cliffs sharing their habitat with Gasteria excelsa, Huernia pendula, Cotyledon woodii and Adromischus liebenbergii subsp. orientalis. At the Kouga Dam, plants were observed growing in Gamtoos Thicket on cliffs with Aloe pictifolia, Cotyledon tomentosa, Haworthia viscosa and Gasteria glomerata.

Var. adoensis grows near Addo and Enon in the Eastern Cape in Sundays Thicket. Var. caulescens has stems longer than 4 cm and with spoon-shaped leaf tips. The latter from near Enon, Eastern Cape.

Caputia scaposa is closely related to Caputia tomentosa with similar silvery white leaves, however the latter is a spreading, shrubby plant.

This species grows unarmed but finds it protection from the sheer cliffs. Although rain falls mainly in summer and winter and ranges from 250 -400 mm per annum, there is a tendency toward winter dryness. The average annual daily maximum temperature is about 24°C and the average daily minimum about 12°C. Caputia scaposa grows at an altitude of 100 -4 00m. The soil is sandy, mineral poor and acidic. The plants grow in full sun or light shade, the dense silvery hairs reflect the sun, an adaptation to the dry conditions.