The alternate leaves of Helichrysum zeyheri are often sparsely scattered along the stems. Leaf-like bracts subtend every young branch, even in the inflorescence.

The leaves are silvery grey to blue-green, covered in fine whitish hair, sometimes matted along the surfaces; the marginal hairs are often golden. The leaves are broadly obovate in the photo, folding in along their midribs; they may also be much narrower. The margins are usually entire, may be wavy and show some thickness of the leaves. Slight marginal toothing is sometimes observed. Leaves become 20 mm long, 5 mm wide, diminishing in size towards the top of the plant (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008).