The tuft or rosette of Bulbine abyssinica leaves in this young plant has leaves curving in snaky fashion, mostly pointing upwards. Thickly succulent, the long, quill-like leaves are flat on the inside, smooth, green and tapering to acutely pointed tips. They become 20 cm long and 5 mm wide.

Bulbine is from the same family as the aloes, haworthias and kniphofias (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Blundell, 1992; iSpot).