Some branches of Helichrysum rosum are erect, others recurve, rooting where they meet the ground. This characteristic of growing additional "anchors" for the plant have earned this and several other Karoo plants the common Afrikaans name of ankerkaroo; this one being the bergankerkaroo.

Only stem-tip leaves have sap in the plant of the photo, the withered grey leaves persisting lower down on this hardy species. Young stems are pale green and white from a covering of whitish hairs. Where old stems lose their hair they appear darker.

A well-growing plant may display many long straight stems. It also tends to form a ground-covering mat, growing below surrounding shrubs (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008).