The single-stemmed, much-branched Pentzia dentata shrub has woody stems that may spread to a rounded shrub-shape of 1 m in diameter.

Leaves are fairly dense near stem-tips on the soft stem parts, dropping off from older stems and leaving the lower, woody parts bare. These perennial plants typically live in semi-arid conditions where regularly recurring tough seasons induce behavioural characteristics of frugal living in plants as well (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; http://pza.sanbi.org).