The grey, grey-green or bright green leaves of Athanasia trifurcata may be hairy or not, often scurfy with a pale grey, dust-like covering as in the photo.

The leaves are alternate and without stalks, the base tapering into the stem. Leaf shape is often narrow, almost oblong to obovate. Two to five acutely or bluntly pointed teeth are conspicuous at the tips, pointing forward. Much leaf variability is seen on plants of this species, the leaves sometimes almost rounded, their teeth as well. Leaf length is up to 4 cm.

The specific name, trifurcata, is derived from the Latin words tres or tris meaning three and furca meaning fork, referring to the leaf tips.

The plant is sometimes slightly aromatic and not very palatable (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; iSpot; Andrew, 2017).