The Gymnodiscus capillaris herb grows a tuft or rosette of basal leaves. The leaves are obovate to oblanceolate in shape with rounded tips and tapering bases. The leaf margins may be entire, coarsely or sparsely toothed, sometimes lobed. Margins and lower midribs are purplish red on some plants.

The fleshy to leathery blades are dull grey-green, in picture suffused with red on a lower surface in view and sparsely purple-blotched on upper surfaces (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).