It is a small shrub with greyish-green foliage, daisy-like flowers in white, pink or mauve that can be seen from spring to late summer.

Olearia phlogopappa is a small, erect shrub that grows 0.3–3 m (0.98–9.8 ft) high with greyish foliage.

The 4-5 bracts are bell-shaped to hemispherical, arranged in rows covered with short soft hairs, occasionally glandular.

[2][5][6][7][8] Olearia phlogopappa was first formally described by Jacques Labillardière in 1806 and published in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen and named Aster phlogopappus.

[11][12] There are nine subspecies which are currently recognised by the Australian Plant Census: Olearia phlogopappa is widespread and common from coast to mountains, found in both dry and wet sclerophyll forests.