Higher parts of the Blue Mountains west and south-west of Sydney. The species grows as a prostrate shrub with a spread of 3-4 metres.
Flowers are deep red in colour and usually occur in winter and spring.
The elliptical to oval-shaped leaves have a leathery texture and may be 50 to 100 mm long with silky hairs on the lower surface. Natural hybrids with G.acanthifolia are common where both species occur together in the Blue Mountains. The hybrid is known as G .x gaudichaudii. Grevillea x gaudichaudii usually has foliage which is intermediate in shape between the two parents. G.laurifolia is reasonably widely cultivated but can be unreliable at low elevations.