A scrambling shrub or climber, usually with hooked spines on the stem. Two varieties are known in South Africa; var. fascicularis (Zigzag Caper-bush) and var. zeyheri (Coast Zigzag Caper-bush). The most notable difference between these two varieties is that var. fascicularis has indented (notched) leaf-tips whereas var. zeyheri has pointed leaf-tips. The spines on the Coast Zigzag Caper-bush are usually reduced or absent. The flowers are whitish and produced on leafless side branchlets which resemble spikes or racemes. The fruit are spherical and 6-15 mm in diameter, ripening to purple-black.