The deeply incised leaves of Arctotis fastuosa have unpaired lobes opposite the midrib or rachis. The lobe margins are bluntly and unevenly toothed.

The soft blades are faintly hairy on top, a dull dark-green in colour and white woolly below.

The flower stalks have thin, longitudinal lines, maroon on a whitish background, or is it whitish on a maroon background? The stalks are erect or curve upwards, presenting their flowerheads well above the leaves (Manning 2009).