Achyranthes divaricata is a densely branching shrub, reaching heights of 0.3–2 meters. The stems are covered in straight, silvery-white, appressed hairs that are 0.2–0.6 mm long, creating a densely white–sericeous appearance on the cylindrical or slightly quadrangular twigs. Internodes measure between 0.5 and 6.5 cm. The leaves are simple and opposite, with elliptic to lanceolate blades, measuring 2–7.5 cm long and 0.6–4.6 cm wide, and are made of chartaceous material. The upper surfaces are sparsely to densely sericeous, often white-punctate, while the lower surfaces are densely white-sericeous. Leaves have entire margins and 7–10 ascending lateral veins per side, connecting to a 3–12 mm long petiole and densely sericeous. The inflorescence is terminal, typically solitary, and forms a compound branched dichasium of spikes with weakly ascending flowers and actinomorphic (radially symmetric). Each flower is subtended by a sericeous, scarious, ovate bract and two narrower bracteoles. The calyx comprises four equal, ovate sepals, externally white-sericeous and internally glabrous. It lacks petals, has four included stamens with ellipsoid anthers, and a superior ovary that is white-pilosulous with a capitate stigma. The fruit, enclosed by the persistent calyx, is ellipsoid or obovoid, pilosulous distally, and contains one broadly ellipsoid seed. These seeds are ca. 1.1-1.2 mm in length and 0.7-0.9 mm in width; they have a shiny brown seed coat with a lustrous surface and lack an endosperm. It inhabits north-facing cliffs and ridges in lowland and montane mesic forests, thriving on steep slopes and cliffs between 600-1100 meters.