Widdringtonia schwarzii is much larger than its cousin W. cedarbergensis, and grows to a height of 17-20 m on average. The bark is red-grey, thin and fibrous; leaves are flattened, ovate, grey-blue, and darker than those of W. nodiflora, the mountain cypress. Juvenile leaves are narrow and needle-like and are spirally arranged. Fruits are in the form of cones, with male and female cones borne on the same plant. Male cones are very small, up to 2 mm long, and are produced in autumn.

Female cones are dark brown, with rough, warty scales. They develop in autumn and remain on the tree for almost three years before the seeds are released during late summer.

As a result, cones can be found in various stages of development on the tree, all year round. Seeds are black-brown, ovoid and broadly winged.