Proboscidea althaeifolia inhabits sandy locations in desert areas, forming rounded clumps up to 2 feet high and wide. Stems grow along the ground or at an angle, arching back down. Leaves are relatively large and numerous, with rounded, scalloped edges, and are shallowly palmately divided into three or five lobes.

The inflorescence is a terminal raceme of between five and 50 flowers, held a little way above the leaves. Flowers have a funnel-shaped corolla up to 1.5 inches long, opening to five large, flared lobes, with irregular margins. The corolla is yellow to orange in color, lighter around the throat, which is marked with darker orange lines and spots. The base of the corolla tube is contained within a reddish calyx about 0.4 inches long, with five lobes, of different sizes; the upper two are smaller than the lower three. Flowers are nodding. Fruits are hairy pods up to 4 inches long, and when mature the upper end divides to form two curving claws, up to three times the length of the body.