Spatalla curvifolia is a rounded shrublet of the Proteaceae family that grows to 80 cm. The leaves are narrow and needle-like, channelled along the length on the upper surface and usually slightly in-curving towards the stems. The curving leaf feature is captured in the specific name of curvifolia. Leaves become up to 5 cm long. Lower branches become leafless.

The plants grow on lower sandstone slopes in sandy, acid soil from the Kogelberg to Riviersonderend and Bredasdorp. The 20 species of Spatalla all grow in the fynbos (Manning, 2010; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Bean and Johns, 2005).