Sesbania tomentosa, a member of the in the pea family (Fabaceae), is usually an erect to prostrate shrub and sometimes a small, erect tree. When prostrate, the branches are up to 14 m (45 ft) long. Trees are 2.5 to 6.0 m (8.2 to 20.0 ft) tall. Each compound leaf consists of 18 to 38 oblong to elliptic leaflets, each 15.0 to 38.0 mm (0.6 to 1.5 in) long and 5.0 to 18.0 mm (0.2 to 0.7 in) wide, and is usually sparsely to densely covered with silky hairs. Flowers are salmon tinged with yellow, orange red, scarlet, or pure yellow.