Macledium zeyheri is an erect herb with most leaves at the base developing from a woody rootstock. New flowering stems develop annually and grow up to 300 mm tall. Stems and young leaves are covered with white woolly hairs. Leaves are simple, up to 110 x 30 mm, young leaves are loosely white-felted above but soon glabrous, white-felted below, margins are entire and the apex acute.

Flower heads are usually solitary but sometimes in small groups of up to three per flowering stem.

Heads are characterized by 35-45 very tough outer bracts, which are somewhat inrolled to form spiky tips. Outermost bracts are mostly green with white margins and purplish markings. Towards the inner bracts the margins and markings become more prominent. Innermost bracts are pure white and much more delicate. An open flower head can measure 40-60 mm across.

Flowers are brownish-red, numerous, probably up to 90 per head. Initially the flower buds are sunk between numerous white pappus hairs, but as they mature the five long narrow lobes are raised and they spread above the pappus layer. Achenes (fruit) are about 5 mm long and covered with stiff white hairs.

Plants flower from December to March, but dried flowers remain on the plants until about May.