The alternate leaves of Chrysocoma ciliata are needle-like, anything from 2 mm to 15 mm long and 1 mm to 2 mm wide. The hairless leaves ascend slightly upon the stems, some curving down just perceptibly. Leaf colour on the thin cylinder-shapes is yellow green to light green and may be sticky to the touch.

At a couple of stem tips the dry remains of past flowerheads, pale and brown, persist upon their stalks (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2009; iNaturalist).