It has prostrate, underground stems, pinnatipartite leaves, cream-coloured and brown flowers arranged in spikes surrounded by hairy bracts.

The flowers are cream-coloured with a brown tip and arranged in a head 60–120 mm (2.4–4.7 in) long surrounded at the base by velvety involucral bracts.

[2][3][4][5] Banksia chamaephyton was first formally described in 1981 by Alex George from specimens he collected west of Mogumber in 1971.

[5][6] The specific epithet (chamaephyton) is derived from ancient Greek words meaning "low-growing" and "plant", referring to the prostrate habit of this species.

[3][4] This banksia is classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife,[2] meaning that is rare or near threatened.