Platanthera sparsiflora can be found in wet habitats. It produces a slender, erect flowering stem up to about 1⁄2 meter (1 ft 8 in) tall. The longest leaves near the base of the stem are up to 15 centimeters (6 in) long by 3 centimeters (1+1⁄4 in) wide. The inflorescence has widely spaced twisted green flowers with petals up to 1 centimeter (1⁄3 in) in length.[2]