[1] It is one of the host plants of the mottled duskywing (Erynnis martialis) in its Eastern-North American distribution.

The distal branchlets, which grows from the main stem are flexible and have internodes between 12–31 mm long.

The bark of the stem is grayish brown, and the stipules, which are outgrowths on either side of the base of a leaf stalk, are thin and deciduous.

The leaf blades vary between 35–74 mm longitudinally and 10-32 mm laterally and come in a diverse shapes, including wide, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, eventually narrowing to acute to obtuse point at the apex.

The lower surface is dull green with long, soft unmatted hair, often drying rusty brown.

[1] The small, white flowers of C. herbaceus in a dense, rounded cluster are about 0.5 to 0.75 inch wide.

The fruit is a three-lobed capsule about 3⁄16 inches in diameter that opens at maturity to release seeds.

[5] The seeds are usually brown and 2-2.5 mm long, and come in variety of shapes ranging from subglobose to ovoid.

[5] Ceanothus herbaceus is an endangered species in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, and Vermont.