It is an erect shrub with sessile, linear, variably-sized leaves, and heads of creamy-white to white flowers arranged in rounded cymes.

[2][3][4] Dolly bush was first formally described in 1806 by Jacques Labillardière who gave it the name Calea aculeata in his book Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.

[5][6] In 1818, Robert Brown changed the name to Cassinia aculeata in the Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.

[9] In 2009, Anthony Edward Orchard described two subspecies in Australian Systematic Botany and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census: Cassinia aculeata grows in a wide variety of habitats from sea level to 1,300 m (4,300 ft) above sea level, but often in disturbed areas, as for example after fire or logging operations.

[3] Subspecies nova-anglica grows at higher altitudes and is only known from the New England National Park and a single collection on the Central Tablelands.