The long-lived Lasiosiphon deserticola shrub is described as reaching heights to 1 m on the Bokkeveld Plateau, 60 cm in the Little Karoo and 45 cm in the Great Karoo; in some places as only 30 cm tall. Size and the colour of leaves and stems can differ much across habitat extremes of a plant’s distribution range. Add its palatability to stock and game and the known plant of a home region may not be recognised when adapted in some other settings.

Old stems become woody and grey, sporadically gnarled or rough, otherwise fairly smooth (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).