The species was formally described by Thomas Kirk in 1871, and was discovered at Mount Young on Great Barrier Island in November 1867 by Kirk, Albert James Allom and Frederick Hutton.[3] Kirk named the species after Allom.[4]
A low shrub, varying from a few inches to two feet in height, branching from the base, branches few, stout. Leaves oblong, unequal at the base, excessively thick and coriaceous, obtuse, shining, reticulate above, principal veins diverging from the mid-rib nearly at right angles, mid-rib prominent below, often giving the leaf a keeled appearance, leaf covered below with densely appressed, silvery, shining, tomentum, l"-2" long, rather closely set; petioles short, stout; corymbs longer than the leaves, pecluncled, downy, spreading, lax, many-headed, simple or slightly branched. Heads on stout downy pedicels ¼"-¾ long, large, broad; involuere cylindrical; scales numerous, imbricate, broadly lanceolate, obtuse, puberulous or downy; florets 6-8; rays about 8, broad, notched at the apex, white; pappus brown spreading, feathered. Achenes downy.[3]
O. allomii has broad dish-shaped leathery leaves with white undersides, which measure 2.5–5 cm (0.98–1.97 in) by 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in). The species has fuzzy white twigs, a thick stalk, and typically has large clusters of white flowers.[2]
Kirk noted similarities to the species Olearia haastii, but could identify O. allomii due to the larger size of its parts, dwarf rigid habit, and loose scales.[3]
The species flowers between September and December, and fruits between October and April.[2]
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