Its morphology is consistent (on a cellular level) of rods that are 0.5–0.8 micrometres of both single short chains and long filament like structures.

To study L. hilgardii in liquid requires growing it in Elliker broth so it can show turbidity and gas formation.

Along with this it is capable of sometimes producing biogenic amines or histamine and ethyl carbamate, which causes health risks.

Lentilactobacillus hilgardii hybridizes easily with Levilactobacillus brevis, a bacterium that it is very closely related to.

Prior to its classification as a distinct species, L. hilgardii was believed to be L. brevis, and, as a result, the bacterium's ability to hybridize raised doubts about its taxonomy.