The opposite leaves of Clematis villosa subsp. stanleyi are deeply divided into oblong to elliptic segments, the upper lobes divided again and acutely pointed. The dull green blades are hairy (Germishuizen and Clarke, 2003; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; iNaturalist; https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).