In its habit Oldenburgia paradoxa is a remarkably dense, usually cushion-shaped, subshrub, typically growing in the form of a hemisphere.

The leaves are elliptical, alternate, and in appearance are typical of the genus, leathery, deep green above, and felted white below.

The flower heads are about 5 cm in diameter, creamy, sometimes with a tinge of pink or purple.

[2] The species is endemic to the mountains of the southern part of the Western Cape Province in South Africa.

It grows in sandstone on cliffs, in rock crevices, and near mountain tops where it has little competition from other plants.