[2][3] Shrubby mayweed is an annual plant, flowering from September to December in barren, sandy soils, such as the shores of salt marshes.

[3] The bisexual flowers consists of many yellow buttons around 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter composed only of disc florets, with a corymb inflorescence that can grow to be up to 30 cm wide.

[4][3][5] It grows knee-high (around 50 cm tall) and has feathery gray-green leaves that have pinnatisect and glabrous morphology and an irritating smell.

[5] Unlike some of it relatives (Foveolina and Pentzia) its fruits do not contain myxogenic cells so when they contact water they cannot take it in to store for germination.

[3] In South Africa, it is a weed that can seriously challenge crops, due to its strong smell that repels most livestock and adversely affects the taste of milk and meat from animals that do consume it.

[3] Ideally, this plant should be grown in a sunny area and in large amounts alongside other species that flower at the same time to aid fill it out.