The small, fleshy leaves of Salsola aphylla are densely arranged upon the stems, clustering around each other and sometimes leaving visible patches of bare stem. The leaves are scale-like and only hairy when young, often wrinkled when older or when moisture is lacking.

Palatability of the plant is variable, browsed in some regions while not at all in others (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Le Roux, et al, 2005).