This is a tough, deciduous, slow-growing, succulent shrub usually to about 3 m tall, rarely up to 5 m, with a rounded to spreading crown. The sap is resinous and inflammable. The roots are succulent, bearing brownish maroon bark when exposed. Juvenile plants with spreading stems. Mature plants with a solitary main stem of which the leathery bark is peeling. Younger branches are about the thickness of a pencil, sometimes with forked branching, the bark pale creamy, yellowish to greyish, covered in conspicuous, somewhat regular, highly reduced spur-branches from which groups of leaves and peduncles appear. The greyish-green leaves grow up to 4 mm long, spreading, obovoid to club-shaped and somewhat flattened, in groups of 3 to 4, on sessile twigs. The leaf ends are blunt (obtuse).

Fig. 2. An illustration of Portulacaria namaquensis by Marieta Visagie, ex Swartkoppies Mine, Bushmanland, Northern Cape.

The racemes are axillary, short, to about 20 mm long, appearing from the spur branches, among the leaves, each bearing up to 7 flowers. Flowers with spreading pink to white petals and shortened bract-like calyces. The petals 5, oblong with blunt (obtuse) ends, to 2 mm long, becoming reflexed. The stamens arising from the petal base, slightly shorter than the petals. The anthers are dorsifixed, oblong and notched (emarginate at ends). The ovary is obovoid with short bifid style. The seed is winged. Flowering is in summer (December to February). Seeds are dispersed in autumn (January- March).

Fig. 3. Portulacaria namaquensis in flower.