Phylica imberbis var. imberbis, sometimes called the common hairy hardleaf, is a smallish shrub growing lax, erect branches to 50 cm in height.

The distribution of all three varieties of P. imberbis is in the Western Cape, from the Bokkeveld Mountains to the Swartberg Mountains and coastally to near George, possibly Knysna. Only var. eriophoros may extend into the Northern Cape.

The plants grow in sandstone derived acid soils on fynbos-covered slopes. The three varieties are not considered to be threatened in their habitats early in the twenty first century (Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; Moriarty, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).