Ericameria paniculata is one of the larger species in this genus, forming clumps up to 6 feet high. Common names include Mojave rabbitbrush, reflecting its location, or black-banded rabbitbrush, since young stems are often dotted with small black patches, resulting from fungal infection or insect attack. All plant parts are hairless.
Flowerheads are held in dense panicles, relatively long and narrow, and are attached by stalks of around a third of an inch, bearing a few short bracts. The unequal phyllaries are in three to five series, light yellow/brown in color, and remain tightly pressed against the involucre. The midveins are not raised. There are no ray florets, only disc florets (five to eight), with style and stamens exserted.