Bare stem parts are often conspicuous on Grewia robusta shrubs, even when they do well in their normally arid habitat. There is pale and smooth grey bark on the sparse, rigid and slightly curved branches.

They soon become leafless, while the spur-branchlets emerging spaced at right angles or slightly ascending, bear the leaves and flowers, reminiscent of an apple tree in spring.

This bush was seen in the Kammanassie in April (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist).