Xanthosia fruticulosa is an erect, perennial subshrub that typically grows to a height of and is sparsely hairy. Its leaves are trifoliate, arranged at the base of the plant, the leaflets wedge-shaped, long and wide on a
petiole long and sheathing the stem. The flowers are arranged in a simple
umbel with 16 to 40 bisexual or bisexual and male flowers. There are 5 to 8
involucral bracts at the base of the
peduncles. The
sepals are green, lance-shaped, long and about wide. The petals are white or pink, long and about wide. Flowering occurs from September to November. ==Taxonomy and naming==