Dioecious. Plants 7-35(-70) cm (often viviparous in late season, bearing propagules in distal and, sometimes, proximal leaf axils, sometimes woody at bases). Stolons none. Basal leaves 1-3-nerved, linear to narrowly spatulate, 18-55 × 1-10 mm, tips acuminate, faces gray-tomentose. Cauline leaves narrowly oblanceolate to linear, 5-60 mm, flagged. Heads 10-110+ in racemiform to paniculiform or corymbiform arrays. Involucres: staminate 3.5-5.5 mm; pistillate 3.5-6.5 mm . Phyllaries (relatively narrow, proximally green or golden brown, glabrous) distally white, acute. Corollas: staminate 2.5-4 mm; pistillate 2-4 mm. Cypselae 1-2 mm, sparingly papillate or papillate-strigose (hairs clavate); pappi: staminate 3-4.5 mm; pistillate 2.5-4 mm. 2n = 28.

Some authors have recognized Antennaria microcephala (= A. luzuloides subsp. aberrans) as a distinct species. Given the intergradation between A. luzuloides in the strict sense and A. microcephala in the strict sense, one species with two subspecies seems justified. Perhaps the most significant difference between the subspecies is ecologic. Antennaria luzuloides is a member of the Argenteae group.