Sophora macrocarpa is a small evergreen tree or large shrub, growing to a height of about with long slender branches. The new growth is pubescent, with reddish-brown hairs. The leaves are alternate and up to in length. They are pinnate, each with nine to fifteen leaflets. The leaflets are dark green on the upperside and slightly glaucous underneath. The dangling clusters of flowers have long thick stems. Each flower has five pale browncalyx lobes fused into a cup, five long yellowpetals and ten stamens. The fruit is a pod containing several seeds. The flowering period is August to December.