It is an erect perennial herb or shrub with narrow oblong to egg-shaped leaves with toothed edges, and spikes of yellow flowers.

Goodenia viscida is an erect, perennial herb or shrub that typically grows to a height of 40 cm (16 in) and has sticky foliage.

Flowering mainly occurs from October to January and the fruit is a more or less spherical capsule about 3 mm (0.12 in) in diameter.

[2][3] Goodenia viscida was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.

[6] Viscid goodenia grows in moist depressions and near lakes between Esperance and the Stirling Range in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.