[2] The bushy erect pungent shrub typically grows to a height of 0.5 to 3 metres (2 to 10 ft) with branchlets that are ribbed, glabrous or sparsely appressed-puberulous with straight hairs.

The leathery leaves[3] have phyllodes or are sessile, patent to ascending, inequilateral basally, subulate-linear, elliptic in shape and straight to recurved.

[3] The species was first formally described by the botanist Jacques Labillardière in 1807 as Mimosa cochlearis as part of the work Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.

It was then reclassified as Acacia cochlearis by Heinrich Wendland in 1820 as part of the work Commentatio de Acaciis aphyllis.

[6] A. cochlearis grows in sandy soils and is found in coastal areas on sandplains and sand dunes.

Although it is must be protected from high winds it is utilised in mixed plantings with other species such as Acacia rostellifera and Scaevola crassifolia.