The leaves of Diascia anastrepta appear shiny and fleshy here. Leaf shape is ovate, with leaves rounded at the base, tapering to acute tips. The leaves fold inwards along the midrib, some lateral veining being visible. Shallow, spaced teeth occur along the leaf margins. Some leaves curve downwards along their length. The leaves are positioned opposite on the reddish stems. The plant grows to about 30 cm.

The distribution of D. anastrepta lies mainly in Lesotho, a little in the west of KwaZulu-Natal and the east of the Free State. The habitat is mountainous grassland on basalt cliffs and along watercourses.

This plant was found in the Mkhomazi Wilderness area in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. Winters get cold here. Dutch horticulturists have found that the plant withstands temperatures as low as 5 degrees Celsius below freezing (Manning, 2009; www.coppelmans.nl).