Shrubs, 0.5–1.5 m. Stems erect, roughly stellate-pubescent with minute intermingled glandular hairs. Leaves: stipules subulate, 3–10 mm; petiole shorter than blade; blade slightly discolorous, ovate, 2.5–10 cm, slightly longer than wide, base truncate to cordate, margins obscurely crenate to serrate, apex acute, sometimes acuminate, surfaces roughly pubescent. Inflorescences solitary flowers or racemes or panicles. Flowers: calyx 8–13 mm, basally cuneate, lobes basally overlapping, erect in fruit, acuminate, to 8 mm wide; corolla orange-yellow throughout, petals 10 mm; staminal column pubescent; style 8–10-branched. Schizocarps ± ovoid, 10–13 × 10–13 mm; mericarps: apex acuminate, surface with both stellate and glandular hairs. Seeds 3 per mericarp, 3 mm, uniformly puberulent. 2n = 42.

Flowering year-round. Open, arid habitats; 0–200 m; Tex.; Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas).

Abutilon berlandieri is found in southern Texas and is scarce elsewhere.