Cotyledon tomentosa is a succulent shrublet, up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall, densely branched. The leaves are flat, succulent and hairy, up to 1.5 inches (3.5 cm) long with 3 – 10 (often reddish) teeth, arranged in a neat row. There are bright green forms with yellowish hairs and grey ones with whitish hairs. The bell-shaped flowers are light yellow, orange to orange-red or pinkish in color.