It is a herb with prostrate to erect branches, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and racemes of purplish or reddish flowers.

Goodenia symonii is a herb with prostrate to erect stems up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long and hairy foliage.

Flowering occurs from February to June and the fruit is an oval capsule about 4 mm (0.16 in) long.

[2][3] This species was first formally described in 1979 by Roger Charles Carolin who gave it the name Calogyne symonii in the journal Brunonia from material collected by David Symon in 1972.

[5] This goodenia grows in seasonally wet soil in the north of the Northern Territory.