Gibbaeums are small succulent plants that grow close to the ground (never higher than 200 mm), they can have short lateral stems and some species form clumps. The leaves occur at the end of branches in pairs, are thick and rounded and are unequal in shape, a feature that makes this genus different from a similar-looking vygie genus Argyroderma which has perfectly equal-sized leaves and occurs in the Knersvlakte.
The leaves of Gibbaeum often look velvety, as many species have tiny hairs covering the leaves. The flowers are solitary and are always pink, white or mauve but never yellow, which is the colour of many other vygies from the Little Karoo. They flower from around July to November in response to rain. The flowers open in the afternoon and close in the evening. The fruit are dry capsules that have 6 to 9 segments. Many small, rounded seeds are found in each segment.
It is not known how long different individuals survive but these plants may survive for more then 20 years in the wild. Best grown in containers inside.