This species can be distinguished from its relatives, by its flat leaf ends (not convex like Haworthia emelyae) which have more rounded tips, and a grey colour.
Some individuals have leaves with a surface that is scabrous (rough) or papillate (bearing minute, nipple-shaped protuberances). These papillate forms have become especially popular in cultivation.
Detail of the distinctive scabrid/papillate leaf-surface of this species
The smoother "argenteo-maculosa" ("silver-spots") variety of Haworthia pygmaea
The "acuminata" ("pointed") variety of Haworthia pygmaea, with sharper pointed leaves
This species is one of the "retuse" species of Haworthia, meaning that it usually grows sunken beneath the ground with its flattened leaves only showing on the surface. Its rosette of succulent leaves are turned back ("retuse") so as to provide a flat and level face, on the surface of the ground. In this form, it is similar to other retuse haworthias (e.g. Haworthia retusa, Haworthia bayeri, Haworthia springbokvlakensis, Haworthia mirabilis, Haworthia emelyae and Haworthia magnifica).
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