The opposite leaves of Galenia sarcophylla are oblanceolate to elliptic, tapering to both tip and base. The lateral margins are turned up, entire and sometimes red. The dull to dark green blades are fleshy, covered in short white hairs or sometimes glistening water cells; their appearance is usually greyish. Leaves become up to 1,7 cm long, leaves of markedly different sizes often seen on the same plant.

The leaves have no petioles or very short ones and no stipules.

The plants are grazed by stock and game (Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).