One of southern Namibia's most attractive plants was named after the Garieb River, now known as the Orange River. Plants of A. gariepensis grow in a variety of habitats from central Fish River Canyon to the Orange River cliffs and onwards to boulder-strewn areas of south-eastern Namibia. Other individual plants have been recorded south-west of Aus bordering the Sperrgebiet. Solitary plants are usual, growing upright and sub-branches yellow to green inflorescence, making them unique amongst other Namibian specimens.
Their reddish-yellow leaves are decorated with thin parallel stripes, turning light green after initial rains. Light yellow-green flowers occur, but reddish flowers appear south of Ariamsvlei, near the Namibia/Botswana border from July to September. This species grow well in gardens on a raised position in very good sandy soil.