It is a low shrub with linear to oblong or narrowly egg-shaped leaves, and dense clusters of creamy-white flowers with dark brown, papery bracts at the base.

Spyridium subochreatum is a straggly or erect shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 60 cm (24 in), its branchlets densely covered with woolly hairs.

The flowers are arranged in dense heads near the ends of branches surrounded at the base by several dark brown, papery bracts.

[2][3][4] This species was first formally described in 1855 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Trymalium subochreatum in his book Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants.

[8] Spyridium subochreatum grows in mallee-heath on sand dunes and is widespread and common in north-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia.