S. leucophylla is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 1 to 1.5 metres (3+1⁄2 to 5 feet) tall and wide.

[2] The plant's specific epithet, leucophylla, describes the light grayish leaves.

The type specimen was collected near Santa Barbara, California, by Scottish botanist David Douglas and named by Edward Lee Greene in 1892.

[2] The species is widely used in California and xeriscape gardening, preferring full sun and good drainage.

It is thought that monoterpenoids released from the plant may be responsible for inhibiting the growth of neighboring seedlings.