The plant grows mainly in dry, low-lying areas on alluvial fans or on limestone slopes, and is rarely found above elevations of 300 metres (980 ft), where it is replaced by C. hamaderohensis.

It does not have the climbing habit of other Cissus species, and its stems are flattened and gray-green in colour, with relatively small leaves and flowers.

The tangled mats of C. subaphylla stems act as a protective covering for plants regularly eaten by goats and other browsing animals; the plant is thus important in the rehabilitation of species such as Dendrosicyos, Maerua and Commiphora.

[3][1] Cissus subaphylla is one of the dominant plant species found on the Socotra's coastal plains and low inland mountains.

This situation is the direct result of livestock being introduced to an island flora which has never been subjected to large grazing and browsing mammals, and thus has had no time to evolve any defence.