It is a subshrub with erect branches, coarsely-toothed, egg-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers usually arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

Goodenia valdentata is a subshrub that typically grows up to 80 cm (31 in) high and wide with erect branches, the foliage covered with simple and glandular hairs.

The flowers are usually arranged singly, rarely in pairs in upper leaf axils on peduncles 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long with leaf-like bracts and narrow lance-shaped bracteoles 6–10.5 mm (0.24–0.41 in) long.

[3] Goodenia valdentata was first formally described in 2014 by Peter J. Lang in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens from material collected by "F.J. Badman per W.R.Barker" near Levi Springs Bore in 1986.

[3] This goodenia grows on stony or rocky soil in open woodland in the Davenport Range area near Lake Eyre.