The small leaves of Pharnaceum aurantium are alternate, spiralling or scattered, but mostly growing in whorl-like clusters. Leaves are more prevalent lower upon the plant.

The narrow leaf is fleshy, rounded along its length and even slightly channelled, a distinct bristle at its tip. Leaves become about 5 mm long and 1 mm wide. Whitish, membranous stipules are present with irregular, jagged margins or generally ragged. Their presence is one of the ways of distinguishing Pharnaceum plants from similar shrubs.

These plants are rarely browsed by game and stock (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).