Leatherleaf is a perennial dwarf shrub that grows up to 1.5 m tall. It prefers to grow in bogs but can also be found in fens, rocky crevices, and pool margins. It is a member of the Ericaceae family and often grows in large spreading colonies. The leaves of this species are alternately arranged on the branch and are elliptical to oblong in shape. They measure 1-4 cm long to 0.5-1.5 cm wide. A characteristic that identifies this plant are the thick, leatherly leaves which are dull green on top and have small silvery scales on the undersides. The undersides can also be brown in color. 

Leaf margins are typically smooth, though they can be slightly and irregularly toothed. The plant is evergreen, but the foliage often turns red‑brown in winter. The lower stems extend into peat moss, bog moss, or other sphagnum, anchoring the plant in saturated, acidic substrates.

Leatherleaf flowers from April to early June and is pollinated by bees and by certain moths, including Coleophora ledi. The flowers are white, bell‑shaped, and measure about 5–6 mm long. They are borne on terminal racemes that can reach up to 12 cm in length, with each flower arising from the axils of the small bracts along the raceme. The corolla consists of fused petals forming a short tube with five small lobes.

This species reproduces in two ways. The first is by seed: after pollination, the flowers develop into small capsules that split open to release numerous tiny seeds. The second is vegetative reproduction through rhizomes, which spread horizontally beneath the sphagnum layer. This allows leatherleaf to form extensive colonies in the bogs where it grows.

Leatherleaf plays an important role in peat‑bog ecology. Its colonies help stabilize the bog surface and create structure that supports other species, including pitcher plants and other acid‑tolerant flora. The dense shrubs also provide cover for nesting mallards and other ducks. In addition, some Native American tribes have used Leatherleaf medicinally, particularly for inflammation.