Solanum chilense is a robust, perennial, herbaceous plant that at first grows erect, later lying.

The grayish stems become woody at the base and reach a diameter of 8 to 12 millimetres (0.31 to 0.47 in).

The sheath consists of five to seven pairs of bulk leaves which are narrowly elliptical in shape, a broad-pointed to pointed tip, and inclined to appear sessile.

The species occurs on the western slopes of the Tacna region of the Andes in southern Peru to northern Chile.

They grow in extremely dry, rocky areas and in coastal deserts from sea level to up to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).