Bonatea antennifera grows (some of) its leaves on a separate stem next to the flower stalk. The clump of plants in picture shows several leafy stems and flower stalks flourishing simultaneously.

Large, ascending blue-green leaves are also present upon the flower stems, right up to the flower spikes that are just beginning to open. Many green buds are still waiting their turn higher up (Lowrey and Wright, 1987; Manning, 2009).