Seen from below, the young leaf of Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi presents the outside of the leaf V-shape. The lower surface of the sturdy leaf rachis is densely woolly. Also the margins of the ascending leaflets still retain scattered signs of hairiness.

The leaflet margins have no spines, their tips rounded. Leaflet colour is pale bluish-green. Longitudinal veins are visible on this (lower) side of the leaflets (Hugo, 2014; Coates Palgrave, 2002).