Olneya tesota is a slow-growing, drought-deciduous tree that can reach up to 40 feet (12 meters) tall and 3 feet (0.9 meters) in diameter. It has a thick, grayish-brown bark that is deeply furrowed and a rounded crown. The leaves are small, pinnately compound, and composed of 7-15 leaflets. The flowers are showy, pinkish-purple, and appear in clusters in the spring. The fruit is a long, flat pod that contains many small seeds.