Wahlenbergia rivularis is an evergreen perennial that reaches about 30 cm in height when in bloom. The plant spreads in groundcover fashion, rooting as it multiplies.

The leaves are broadly elliptic to ovate with shiny upper surfaces and marked indentations along the curved lines of the net-veining. The margins are entire or slightly toothed.

The white or creamy summer flowers are bell-shaped with five petals that have pointed tips and are joined at the base. They grow on long thin stems well above the foliage.

The species is distributed in the east of South Africa from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga. The natural habitat is land near watercourses and in marshy areas. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

W. rivularis grows in sunny positions, more commonly in semi-shade, requiring regular watering. It is commonly and fairly easily grown from either seed or cuttings (www.plantzafrica.com; www.redlist.sanbi.org).