The lax Protea laurifolia bushes can spread their branches into rounded shapes as here, towering over surrounding fynbos on the mountain slopes of their habitat.

The young leaves remind of the silver tree, Leucadendron argenteum, that has a more erect, taller and narrower growth habit.

P. laurifolia stems are usually covered in ash-grey hairs (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).