Herb, to 1 m high. Leaves 40–80 cm long, 1.0–2.5 cm wide; midvein prominent, asymmetric. Inflorescence simple, often with purple tinge, flowers secund, 7–15-flowered. Primary bracts membranous, reddish towards apex. Flowers red to orange, yellow striped. Perianth tube 2.5–4.0 cm long, narrow for 5–15 mm basally, distinctly 3-pouched at junction with widened part, upper portion longer; adaxial lobe 2.2–3.5 cm long, hood-shaped; other lobes 0.7–1.8 cm long. Anthers slightly exserted, dark purplish. Style slightly exserted.
Native to South Africa, naturalised in Victoria.
Individual flowers are similar to those of the much more widespread (in Victoria) C. floribunda. In their native range the two species are thought to hybridise. However, C. aethiopica is readily distinguished by its smaller, subsecund to secund inflorescence of up to 15 flowers, and the distinctly 3-pouched floral tube.
