The specimens he studied were collected by the English botanist John Bidwill in 1839 on Mt Tongariro, on New Zealand's North Island.

They have a shiny, green upper surface, usually close to hairless except in young or North Island plants.

[3] This species hybridises with C. lyallii to form C. × pseudolyallii, which resembles C. spectabilis but with longer narrower leaves.

[2] Celmisia spectabilis flowers in early to mid summer, and has many pollinators, including Melangyna novaezelandiae and Leioproctus.

[4] Because it was able to withstand once-frequent tussock burning, and is unpalatable to sheep, this daisy is now one of the more widespread species in the mountainous areas of New Zealand.