Psoralea sordida grows to 2,5 m in an erect, lanky habit of sparse branches. It resprouts after fire. The needle-like leaves are trifoliolate, sometimes up to five-foliolate. Short white hairs are sparsely scattered along the leaflet surfaces.

This shrub is a late-comer to the list of Psoralea species, fairly recently identified. It is found in arid fynbos on higher slopes of the Swartberg, the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains. While Psoralea species typically favour damp slopes and seeps, P. sordida is found in dry regions. Although not known as a species for long, it is common on the Swartberg (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).