Fiddle everlasting is an evergreen perennial shrub growing up to 1 m tall. It is spreading, with numerous, soft, leafy stems that are loosely branched and the flower heads are extended by a peduncle (stalk). The branches are noticeably long, grey and hairy or woolly.  The leaves are alternately arranged, ovate (egg-shaped or oval) 8–16 x 8–10 mm, grey-woolly on both sides, margins crisped, constricted and eared at the base and clasping the stem. This species possesses a very strong aromatic odour.

Fig. 2. A typical specimen of Helichrysum pandurifolium, showing height and width when fully grown. (Photo Marinda Koekemoer)

The flower heads are campanulate (bell shaped), ± 5–8 x 6–14 mm, made up of 12–39 yellow flowers. Each flower head is enclosed by creamy white, papery involucral bracts. Few to many flower heads are presented in loose clusters at the tips of branches. Bristle pappus (tuft of hairs on the base of flower and later at the apex of fruit/seed) with open cilia cohering the bases firmly. Achenes (small, dry , thin-walled, one-seeded fruit) are up to 0.75 mm long and shaped like a barrel. It flowers from spring to midsummer (between September and January), but mainly in spring and early summer (from October to December).

Fig. 3. LEFT Alternately arranged, strongly aromatic, ovate leaves of Helichrysum pandurifolium, with grey-wool on both sides and margin crisped. (Photo Marinda Koekemoer) RIGHT A cluster of campanulate flower heads showing yellow flowers surrounded by creamy, pointed, involucral bracts. (Photo Marcus Melck)

It is similar to Helichrysum patulum and H. petiolare, however it may be differentiated by its more pointed involucral bracts.

Fig.4. LEFT Flowerheads of the closely related Helichrysum patulum. Note the rounded tips of the bracts compared to the pointed tips of Helichrysum pandurifolium. (Photo Diana Studer) RIGHT Leaves of the closely related Helichrysum petiolare. (Photo Marinda Koekemoer)