Phyllostegia waimeae, a nonaromatic member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family, is a climbing perennial plant with hairy four-angled stems that are woody at the base. The oval leaves are 5 to 13 cm (2 to 5 in) long, 2.5 to 6 cm (1 to 2.4 in) wide, and have rounded, toothed margins. They are wrinkled and sparsely dotted with oil glands. Flowers grow in groups of six along an unbranched leafy stalk usually 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in) long. The bracts below each flower stalk are broad and partially overlap the flowers. The calyx resembles an inverted cone with broad lobes. The corolla, 8 to 12 mm (0.3 to 0.5 in) long, is pinkish or may be white. The fruits, are nutlets.