This fast growing evergreen has a silvery-blue appearance from a distance so that it stands out amongst other vegetation. The attractive and unusual foliage characterizes this tree.

Brachylaena discolor occurs in coastal woodland, bush and on the margins of evergreen forest from the Eastern Cape to Mozambique. It is also very common and easy to find in the dune forests of the coast, where it grow in groups, and in the low-lying, sand and scarp forests of the coast, along rivers and in woodland of the bushveld-savannah. Its natural inclination is to form a dense bushy shrub.

Brachylaena discolor is fast and easy to grow and its striking foliage makes it an asset in any garden. In a garden situation, it reaches a height of 4-10 m and has a non-invasive root system, thus making it ideal for coastal gardens, parks and schools.

The coast silver oak tolerates pruning and coastal conditions and makes excellent hedge or windbreak and is often used to stabilise dunes. It is drought- and frost resistant and will grow well in shade or full sun. It grows best in sandy to loamy soils and makes a good container plant.

Brachylaena discolor can be propagated from heel cuttings taken during spring.

The leaves are simple, large (5-11 cm long x 1,3 cm wide), leathery and glossy dark green above and covered with a silvery-white felt of dense hairs below. The margin is distinctly toothed in young leaves and irregularly toothed in older leaves. The leaves are elliptic with rounded tip and narrow base and are spirally arranged towards the ends of branchlets and twigs. The movement of the wind through the tree exposes the lovely silver undersides of the leaves.

The leaves are very bitter and unpalatable and are occasionally browsed by nyala, bushbuck, red and blue duiker.

Masses of nectar rich creamy-white flowers are grouped in 7 to 50 flowered heads, and the heads are grouped together in large terminal panicles. These thistle-like flowers grow at the ends of branchlets. The male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. Flowering season is during winter-spring (July to September), and when in flower, the entire tree is covered in flowers. Being nectar rich they attract bees, birds and other insects that come to feed on the nectar or on the insects attracted by the nectar.