Lannea edulis var. edulis is a small, deciduous shrub that grows 300 to 500 mm tall. The branchlets bearing the leaves, flowers, and fruits, stick up only slightly above the ground and arise from a large, woody, underground rootstock.

It has shiny green leaves that are hairy when young and leathery when matured. The leaves are compound, up to 300 mm long, with large, broad leaflets. The flowers are white to cream-coloured, crowded on short spikes and are borne at ground level in late winter to spring (August to October), before or with the new leaves. The flowers are followed by bright red, ovoid berries, 11 × 9 × 6 mm, in early summer (October to December). The berries usually show before the leaves appear. They are purple to black when ripe.