It has a single thin, grass-like leaf and up to five salmon pink flowers with broad, toothed arms on the sides of the column.

[2][3][4] This species of sun orchid is similar to T. carnea but can be distinguished from that species by its larger flowers, salmon pink (rather than bright pink) colouration, and fringed column arms.

[3][5] Thelymitra rubra was first formally described in 1882 by Robert Fitzgerald and the description was published in The Gardeners' Chronicle.

[6][7] The specific epithet (rubra) is a Latin word meaning "red".

[8] The salmon sun orchid grows in forest, heath and coastal scrub.