Shrublet up to 0.2 m high. Leaves are sessile, obovate up to 200 mm long, upper surfaces grey or green, pubescent becoming glabrous and lower surfaces are grey-felted, margins are usually slightly revolute but sometimes slightly toothed, apex acuminate and base attenuate. Flower heads are discoid (ray and marginal florets absent), solitary at branch tips, pink or white. Bracts glabrous, outer acuminate forming stout spines, up to 25 mm long and inner up to 10 mm long. Pappus of flat serrulate scales. Plants flower erratically in spring, summer, autumn or early winter, from September to June.