Seen from the side, the petals of Malephora purpureo-crocea ascend about as much as they spread, the outer surfaces about the same colour as the inside.

The short, oblong, round-tipped sepals sag below the corolla. They are unequal. The flower is stalked, a small, new leaf pair can be seen growing next to one stalk.

There is a waxy coating on the pale grey-green to slightly yellowish leaf pairs, firmly joined at the base and curving up (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist).