Spreading gidgee grows as an upright tree to a height of up to and has ribbed branchlets that are densely hired between each of the ribs. Like most Acaciaspecies, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. These are flat, curved, and have a length of about and a width of and have longitudinal striations. When it between July and October it produces simple inflorescences that occur in groups of one to five in the axils on long stalks. The flower-heads are a short cylindrical shape with a length of and densely packed with yellow flowers. The seed pods that form after flowering have a length of with a distinctive groove along each edge. The seeds insode are long and have an obloid shape.