Calochilus pulchellus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single dark green, linear to lance-shaped leaf 100–180 mm (4–7 in) long and 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide with a dark red base.

[2][3][4] Calochilus pulchellus was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones from a specimen collected in the Morton National Park and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.

[2] The pretty beard orchid grows in low heath.

[2][4] This orchid is listed as "endangered" under the New South Wales Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

The main threat to the species is its small population size.