Low arctic cinquefoil is a perennial with stems 5-20 cm tall that arise from a branched rootstock covered by old reddish-brown leaf bases. The basal leaves have long petioles and blades with three coarsely-toothed leaflets; the stems have a few small, sessile leaves or leaf-like bracts and 1-3 flowers borne on short stalks. Foliage is loosely covered by long hairs that remain on the plant as it ages. The flowers are 1.5-2 cm in diameter and have a green 5 lobed calyx with small appendages on each lobe, 5 yellow heart-shaped petals, and many stamens and pistils. Each pistil has a single slender style attached at or near the top of the ovary.