A woody shrub, it is characterized by sawtooth leaves and yellow ray flowers that bloom from March to August.

[6][7] The branches of this species are 3–30 mm (0.12–1.18 in) in diameter and reach 5–10 dm (20–39 in) in length, and are covered with sparse, villous hairs (trichomes).

The composite flowers are borne either solitary at the ends of branches, sessile in a racemose capitulescence, or on leafy peduncles that grow up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long.

[8] It is not presently Haplopappus as taxonomic research led to the split of that genus into many different segregates, including Hazardia, all known commonly as goldenbushes.

Hall suggested that they may be close relatives, and the same chromosome number, n = 5, is found both in several South American species and in H. berberidis.

[3] It is primarily abundant in coastal areas, like beaches, bluffs and edges of sand dunes, and inland to hillsides and arroyos.

[8] Hazardia berberidis is present in San Diego County, California, but it is unknown whether the plants there represent native or introduced populations.