Plants in this genus have leaves with a few more or less parallel veins, and tube-shaped flowers usually with a white beard inside.

Plants in the genus Leucopogon range from prostrate shrubs to small trees.

There is a single egg-shaped to circular bract and a pair of similar bracteoles at the base of each flower immediately below the five sepals.

[8][9] Further molecular phylogenetic analysis of Styphelia and related genera by Crayn and others in 2018 have led to further proposed changes, not yet assessed by the APC as at April 2020.

[10] The genus name, Leucopogon is derived from ancient Greek words meaning "white" and "beard", referring to the petal tube.