Leaves are light gray-green, somewhat waxy, oval in shape to nearly round, and smooth or toothed along the edges.

The inflorescence holds hanging clusters of narrow urn-shaped white flowers.

It is light red in color and has a thick pulp covered in a tough, sticky coat.

The shrub is allelopathic, inhibiting the growth of other plants in its understory when rain leaches toxic arbutin and phenolic acids from its foliage.

[3] Tamalia glaucensis is an aphid that induces leaf galls on big-berry manzanita.