Cyathula natalensis is an annual or perennial, much-branched herb, with an upright, scrambling or prostrate habit, growing up to 300 mm in height and spreading up to 1.4 m. Stems are slender and covered in short hairs. Leaves are oblong-spathulate, with a narrow base and a broad apex and at the broadest part it abruptly narrows to a pointed tip. Its flowers are grouped into dense, rounded heads, 10-15 mm in diameter when in flower. The flower head is made up of fertile and infertile flowers. The outer parts (perianth) of the infertile flowers, which don’t bear seeds, develop into stiff, hooked spines. The fertile flowers are pale greenish-white, with 5 petals, 5-6 mm long, covered with long, soft hairs. The flowering period is mid to late summer (December to March). The fruiting head is 15-30 mm in diameter including the spines, and very easily attaches itself and clings onto clothing and/or fur.