Phebalium clavatum is a shrub that typically grows to a height of . Its branchlets are covered with pale red glands and silvery, scale-like hairs. The leaves are more or less circular, about in diameter on a cylindrical
petiole long. The leaves and petiole are covered with silvery scales and the leaf has a large spherical gland. The flowers are white,
sessile and borne on the ends of branchlets with two scaly
bracteoles about long at the base. The five
sepals are long, joined for half their length and covered with silvery scales. The
petals are egg-shaped to elliptical, long and wide, covered with silvery scales on the back and the
stamens are slightly longer than the petals. Flowering occurs from August to September. ==Taxonomy and naming==