Aloe pearsonii is often considered part of a group of southern African "Creeping Aloes" (Mitriformes)[REF] together with closely related species Aloe perfoliata, Aloe arenicola, Aloe meyeri and Aloe dabenorisana.
The name "pearsonii" remembers the botanist and first director of the South African National Botanical Institute, Professor Pearson [REF].