Exocarpos menziesii is shrub in the Santalaceae (sandalwood) family, up to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall. Stems are densely branched, especially toward the ends, with conspicuously maroon-tinged tips. The leaves are usually scale-like, occasionally a few foliaceous leaves present. The foliaceous leaves are elliptic to oblanceolate, 10 to 14 mm (0.4 to 0.6 in) long, 3 to 6 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) wide, with a wedge-shaped to tapering sessile (stemless) base. Flowers are perfect, the five red petals approximately 3 mm (0.1 in) long. Fleshy one-seeded fruit are reddish brown to red at maturity, ellipsoid to narrowly ovoid, and 7 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long with the exposed portion above the receptacle 3 to 6 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) long; the apex is rounded with a small terminal beak or three inconspicuous indentations, partially embedded in a yellow, fleshy receptacle.