Striped wintergreen is a low, evergreen perennial found in dry, acidic woodlands across eastern North America. It grows from underground stolons and fibrous roots, often forming small colonies. The plant reproduces by seed (especially after light wildfires) and also vegetatively from an underground stem. Stems are semi-woody, slender, and red to brown in color, typically unbranched. Non-flowering plants are 3–5 inches tall while flowering stems with inflorescences reach 6–10 inches.

Leaves are leathery, evergreen, and distinctive with a white stripe along the midvein. They measure 1–3 in. long and 1⁄4–1 in. wide, lance-shaped to ovate, with widely spaced toothed margins. Upper surfaces are dark green with pale venation and undersides are light green. Two opposite pairs of smaller leaves occur near the stem base, and a whorl of three larger leaves forms just below the inflorescence. The leaves have a refreshing taste when chewed.

Flowering stems terminate in nodding clusters of 1–5 fragrant, waxy flowers. Each bloom is 1⁄2–3⁄4 inches across, with 5 rounded white to pinkish petals (often with small brownish spots) that curve backward, 5 light green sepals, 10 stamens that form a crown in the center with showy pink anthers, and a green knobby pistil. Flowers face downward on recurved stalks. Blooming occurs from late June into August, lasting 2–3 weeks. The flowers take several weeks to open from the bud stage.