This species is characterized by its elliptic leaves with rather short petioles, its short ovate to triangular stipules with a dense group of glands at the top, its pedunculate cymose inflorescences with the flowers subessile to pedicellate in several small groups, its rather developed and irregularly lobed calyx limbs, its medium-sized flowers and its somewhat small ellipsoid fruits.

Rudgea clerodendroides is generally similar to Rudgea crassipetiolata and Rudgea hispidula; Rudgea clerodendroides was separated from these other two species when originally published by its longer calyx limb, ca. 4-5 mm long, that is irregularly lobed.