This species is a perennial grass with stems growing up to two or three meters long from a knotty rhizome. The stems can be up to a centimeter thick. The leaf sheaths are sparsely to totally hairy. The leaf blades are linear, oval, or lance-shaped and up to 60 to 80 centimeters long by 7 or 8 centimeters wide. They have a pleated texture and are hairless or with some rough hairs. The panicle is loose, open and spreading, reaching up to 80 centimeters long. The spikelet is a few millimeters long but is often accompanied by a bristle which can be 1.5 centimeters long.
Setaria palmifolia is listed in the following regions:
No sightings currently exist.