Anchusa capensis stem leaves are much smaller than the large basal rosette on the ground where leaves may be rough-surfaced, 20 cm long and 2 cm wide. An Afrikaans common name, ossetong (oxen tongue), may refer to the shape of the leaf, its rough surface or both.

The stem leaves are alternate, sessile (stalkless) and lance-shaped to elliptic with sunken midrib. The leaves in picture have finely serrated margins. They reduce in size up the stem, continuing into the inflorescence as bracts (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).