The needle-like leaves of Chaenostoma revolutum may be anything from 2 mm to 14 mm in length. The hairless leaves ascend slightly upon the stems, some curving down just perceptibly. Leaf position is alternate, in the photo appearing somewhat sub-opposite. Leaf colour on the thin cylinder-shapes is yellow green to light green.

At a couple of stem tips the dry remains of past flowerheads, pale and brown, persist upon their stalks (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).