Drooping tree pear is a succulent shrub or tree growing to 5m in height often having a definite trunk that is much branched at the top and has drooping upper branches (cladodes). Branches are narrowly obovate (egg-shaped in outline but with the narrower end at the base) to oblong-lanceolate; base somewhat tapered (cuneate), 10-35 cm long, 7.5-12.5 cm wide. Succulent branches bear areoles with 1-3 grey or yellowish to reddish brown spines with darker tips, while the trunk areoles have 10 or more spines.