[2] It grows in many types of desert habitat, including creosote bush scrub, at elevations below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft).

It is abundant and widespread in Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California.

[3] Tetracoccus hallii is a bushy, branching shrub, hairless in texture except for the new twigs, which have rough hairs.

The small leaves occur in clusters along the branches, each leathery, teardrop-shaped leaf measuring just a few millimeters long.

The plant is dioecious, with male and female individuals producing different types of flowers.