Cyanea maritae is a short-lived perennial shrub, from 2 to 2.4 m (6 to 7 ft) tall. Leaves are 17 to 37 cm (7 to 15 in) long, 8.5 to 19 cm (3.2 to 7.5 in) wide across the segments and 1.3 to 10 cm (0.5 to 8 in) wide between the segments. Leaves are elliptic or oblong, both surfaces armed with prickles. Stems of juveniles are unbranched, armed with numerous prickles at base and becoming smooth near apex. Racemes are 9- to 45-flowered. Corollas are white, tinged with pink, and are gently decurved. Berries yellowish orange, broadly ellipsoid or obovoid, 12 to 13 mm (0.5 to 0.6 in) long, 8.5 to 10.5 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) diameter, crowned by the persistent calyx lobe. Seeds are brown, broadly ellipsoid, and 0.7 mm (0.03 in) long.