Plants are perennial, resprouting annually from its underground rooting system and somewhat succulent. The fleshy, fusiform roots are arranged in a cluster from where the erect, creeping or climbing stem originates (in most cases climbing into bushes). The fleshy stems are up to 10 mm thick and can become up to 2 m long and are ribbed lengthwise. When broken, it exudes a clear sap. The leaves are broadly elliptic to lanceolate, 30–80(–100) × 5–45 mm, decreasing from the base to the tips, leathery; the margins flat or wavy, hairless or roughly hairy.

Figure 2. Ceropegia crassifolia var. crassifolia. A: in habitat, just re-sprouting after it died back the previous winter – note the wavy leaf margins, the climbing/twining growth-tip and leaves reduced towards the tip of the stem. B: opposite leaves with very short petiole. C: clear sap. D: thick, leathery and succulent leaves. E: large leaves with entire margin.

Flowers are carried in an inflorescence with peduncle 3–30 mm long, each contains 3–10 flowers. The individual flowers open successively and are 25–50 mm long. The ± top third is divided in segments, with the bottom two-thirds being a tube. The tube is slightly bent at the base containing a distinct basal globose inflation. The lobes are erect, 9–13 × 3.0–4.5 mm; with the tips fused to form a fleshy cage over the mouth of the tube. The lobes are not twisted in the bud, and their margins are strongly rolled under, and keeled on inner surface.

Figure 3. External parts of the flower of Ceropegia crassifolia var. crassifolia.

Figure 4. Segments of the corolla tube of Ceropegia crassifolia var. crassifolia. A: viewed from outside with the left segment removed. B: dissected shown from the inside. C: sinus showing hairs that move in the slightest breeze – assumed to attract possible pollinators.

Figure 5. Parts of the tube of Ceropegia crassifolia var. crassifolia. A: globose base viewed from the outside. B: dissected globose base viewed from the inside. C: Shaft of the tube showing the white/maroon longitudinal tripes and downwards-pointing hairs on the inside surface.

The flowers are usually pale green to cream-coloured with purple to maroon markings and blotches on the outside and pink to maroon stripes on the inside. Long purple or white hairs are at the sinus of the lobes of the segments. The male and female parts of the flower are fused together into a structure called the gynostegium which contain the pollen that are aggregated in structures called pollinaria. Two pollinia are fused together by a clip which is utilized to adhere to a part of a pollinating insect and is removed as this unit.

Figure 6. The gynostegium of Ceropegia crassifolia var. crassifolia. A: side-view – note the erect white and maroon structures known as the corona lobes. B: angled view showing the inner and outer corona lobes. C: side view in close-up – note the yellow patches which are the pollen gathered together in sacs as a unit (pollinia).

The fruits are succulent follicles 70–100 × 3–4 mm and carry the seeds. The seeds are ± ovate and contain a tuft of white hairs on the one side.

Ceropegia crassifolia is very variable in morphology and colour, even in the same population. It flowers in summer, from December to February, but flowers are also recorded in spring (August) and autumn (April).