[2] Chaenactis suffrutescens is a spreading subshrub producing several branching erect stems reaching up to about 50 cm (20 inches) tall.

The leaves are coated in feltlike white woolly fibers.

[4] The inflorescence is a cylindrical flower head atop an erect, stout peduncle.

Each head is lined with glandular, hairy phyllaries and contains several white or pink-tinged disc florets with protruding anthers.

[4] The fruit is an achene over a centimeter long including the pappus of scales.