The common name of
antennaria marginata, whitemargin pussytoes, refers to the leaves, the undersides of which are covered by dense, short, white hairs, just visible from above along the edge, and contrasting with the bright, green, hairless upper surfaces. Lower leaves taper to a small point, while those higher up the stem have more rounded tips. Basal leaves have one or three veins. Stems are hairy, sometimes glandular.
Flowerheads are produced in flat-topped clusters of between five and eight. Populations of plants may have have only staminate flowerheads, or an approximately equal mix of pistillate and staminate heads. Phyllaries are green at the base, white above, with narrow, pointed tips. Pistillate flowerheads are a little wider than staminate flowerheads, up to a quarter of an inch.