Phaulopsis imbricata is a trailing or scrambling herbaceous perennial about 1 m in height, generally branching from the base, with stems that at first grow flat on the ground and then become vertical. Young stems are sub-quadrangular, eventually becoming rounded at maturity, green to brownish-green, about 2 mm thick, and covered with soft white hairs. This plant has pairs of opposite leaves, one leaf is larger than the other, and they are mostly asymmetric at the base, dark green on the upper surface and slightly paler on the lower surface, and covered with soft hairs.

The inflorescence consists of terminal clusters of tiny, pretty white flowers, with 5 calyx lobes and broad, overlapping bracts at the base. Flowering is in late summer, autumn and early winter (from February to July). The flowers have an unpleasant smell, reminiscent of a mature ram. The fruit is a capsule, 8-9 mm long with 2 locules producing 2 seeds each, exploding when ripe.