Rafnia acuminata is a straggling branched shrublet with bluish leaves that remind of eucalyptus. The branches may spread laterally and trail as can be seen in the photo. The rounded, hairless leaf pairs are sessile, without stipules and opposite, although there often seems to be one missing, causing some confusion. The margins are entire with the edges sometimes red, sometimes green. The midrib and net-veining are conspicuous, almost translucent against the light, otherwise not easily noticed.

The yellow pea-shaped flowers grow solitary at branch tips. They are orange when opening. The pod that follows is short and grey-brown, seen concurrently with flowers as is common in legumes (Bean and Johns, 2005).