The two leaves of Haemanthus pumilio are erect and narrow, somewhat tongue-shaped, withered at bloomtime.
The inflorescence appears in autumn before the leaves. The peduncle or scape is sturdy, pink in colour, growing between 5 cm and 14 cm tall.
The flowerhead has a pale pink brush of stamens with beige to yellow anthers. Around them are prominent, pointed and keeled bracts, pinkish blotched in colour (Duncan, et al, 2016; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984).