The abbreviation of "affinis" preceding the name of the species means "close, similar", meaning that the plant can be considered a close relative of Tylecodon ventricosus. It is a shrubby succulent, slightly branched, which does not exceed 30 cm in height. It produces a thick and woody tuberous stem, partially underground, on the top of which lanceolate and glabrous leaves grow, they are up to 5 cm long, lance-shaped and slightly concave, of a color that can vary from glaucous green to brownish-green. In summer, when the plant begins to lose its leaves, beautiful tubular flowers appear, ranging in shades from yellowish to purplish-brown.