Artemisia afra grows erect stems in a much branched clump, reaching heights from 60 cm to 2 m, depending on the variable conditions of its diverse habitat. The stems are thick, hard and woody near the base, soft, thin and ribbed near their tips, with tiny lateral shoots on older plants.

The alternate, soft, silvery leaves are finely divided to fern-like. Lower leaf surfaces and upper stems are pale grey to silvery from their covering of fine, soft hairs.

Clusters of small creamy yellow flowerheads grow at stem tips and leaf axils near the stem tips. Flowering happens in autumn (Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; www.plantzafrica.com).