This bulbus gem, is a dwarf species of Eucomis, growing 50–65 mm tall. The underground bulb is egg-shaped, made up of creamy white scales covered by dark brown outer tunics. Each plant produces about 7–9 pale green leaves, arranged in a rosette, that are either flat or semi-erect and grow about 55–70 mm long and 20–32 mm wide. Both the flowerhead and the flower stalk are hollow inside. The stalk of the flowerhead (peduncle) is very short, erect, pale green and grows about 3–5mm long and is 3–5 mm wide. The flowerhead grows about 35–40 mm long and 25–35 mm wide. White flowers with blueish grey anthers and white tinged, green ovaries are arranged in clusters on the flowerhead; they have an unpleasant smell.

It is a summer-growing bulb, and the above-ground part of the plant dies off completely during winter.

Eucomis sonnetteana is usually confused with E. zambesiaca. E. sonnetteana has a very short flower stalk, a short and few-flowered raceme, shorter leaves and an unpleasant smell compared to the sweet-scented E. zambesiaca.