Restio virgeus is an evergreen, dioecious, reed-like perennial that grows in small, dense tufts, 0.3–0.5 m tall and 0.1–0.5 m wide at the crown. Cultivated plants in the garden were recorded at 0.8 m high. This species produces rhizomatous or stoloniferous roots. The stems (culms) round, curling on young plants, becoming slightly straighter in the third to fourth years, smooth, branched but usually sparingly. Both culms and sheaths have white or yellow speckles, but it is not that easy to see.

Sheaths are persistent (do not drop off), twisted, hairy on the tip, convoluted, about 12–35 mm long, orange to reddish-brown with deep, pale, membranous margins.

The female inflorescences are 10–30 mm long, interrupted or globose, with 1 to 10 spikelets, of which each spikelet carries 6 to 15 flowers, oblong or oblanceolate, with 1, or without, sterile bracts. The spathes persistent and shorter than the spikelets, while the bracts are taller than the flowers.

The male inflorescences are 8–40 mm long, globose or paniculate, carrying 2 to 50 spikelets, with 3 to 50 flowers. The spathes are persistent and could be shorter or equal or higher than the spikelets, with 4–7 mm long bracts.

The fruit is a white, pitted, ovate seed, about 1.9 × 1.3 mm, with 2 seeds produced per capsule.

Restio virgeus flowering time varies, it may flower in spring (October), early summer (November or December), midsummer (January or February) or late summer (March).  The seeds may be released from March to May, and were observed being released in October to November, but they are only released after the next cohort of flowers have flowered, i.e. they take a year or so to mature on the plant.

Restio virgeus is very similar to Restio schoenoides, and only differs in the female spikelet and growth habit.