Brachyglottis rotundifolia a perennial, woody, evergreen member of the Brachyglottis genus in the family Compositae. It is a common coastal shrub that is is very tolerant of maritime exposure. It grows up to elevations of 1000 metres in the south and west of the South Island and on Stewart Island.

It is a large, evergreen shrub or small tree growing >9 m in the wild. It has a short trunk with thin, brown bark that sometimes separates in to narrow strips. The leathery, rounded leaves are >10 cm long, green above, buff beneath. Flowering occurs in summer and the flowers appear on much branched, terminal clusters. The flowers have a white furry body with yellowish disc florets at the tip. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. Seeds are dispersed during late summer and autumn. Brachyglottis rotundifolia will vegetative propagate by self-layering.