Osteomeles anthyllidifolia is a shrub that exhibits a range of growth forms, from typically prostrate to occasionally erect, reaching heights up to 3 meters. The stems are many-branched, with young branches appearing grayish and drooping. They are often prostrate but can become erect and form large shrubs. It has compound (odd-pinnate) leaves that alternate with oblong-oblanceolate or sometimes oblong-elliptic blades measuring 2–7 cm long. The leaflets are numerous, typically (11–)15–25 per leaf, coriaceous, and measure (0.8–)1–1.5(–2.3) cm long and 0.3–0.7 cm wide. The apex is mucronate, and the base is cuneate and sessile. Upper surfaces are glossy and sparsely appressed long pilose along the slightly impressed midrib, while the lower surfaces are moderate to densely strigose. Margins are entire, with upper surface veins being conspicuously raised-reticulate. The rachis is usually narrowly winged, and petioles are 0.3–0.8 cm long. Stipules are distinct, brownish, darker at the tip, subulate, about 3–5 mm long, and caducous. The flowers usually appear in cymes of 3–6, grouped into terminal, subcorymbose inflorescences, each subtended by 1–2 subulate bracteoles 3–5 mm long. The flowers are bisexual (perfect) or sometimes unisexual. The receptacle is about 2–3 mm long, cup-shaped, adnate to the ovary, densely tomentose externally, and glabrous within. Calyx lobes are triangular-deltate, approximately 2.5 mm long, tomentose externally, and glabrous within, remaining persistent. The corolla comprises 5 white, broadly obovate, clawed petals, each 7–11 mm long. The stamens number 15–20. The ovary is inferior, 2–5-carpellate with one ovule per cell. Styles are 5, distinct, about 5–6 mm long, and arachnoid pubescent in the lower part, with thickened and truncated stigmas. The fruit is white, subglobose, about 10 mm in diameter, with tomentose outer surfaces when young becoming glabrate. Endocarps are angular, about 5 mm long, with two sides, one plane and the other rounded. Seeds are yellowish, approximately 4-6 mm in length. It is widely distributed across habitats, including coastal cliffs, open lava fields, dry shrublands, and dry to mesic forests, even in highly disturbed areas between 0-2320 meters.