It is a small shrub with short upper branches, narrow leaves and yellow, feathery flowers, often with a star-like red centre.

Its leaves are linear in shape, 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and more or less triangular in cross-section with a rounded end with a point.

The sepals are about 5 mm (0.20 in) long, spreading, yellow at first, turning red with age with 8 to 10 feathery lobes.

[4] Verticordia rutilastra is classified as "Priority Three" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife,[4] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.

[5] Verticordia rutilastra is usually propagated from cuttings and although slow to establish has been grown in deep white sand with added gravel.