Rounded shrub, 1–4 m high; young stems pubescent. Leaves alternate, ± linear, spreading, c. 10–20 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, light to mid-green, pubescent to glabrescent, margins with silky hairs, more or less flat; apex obtuse to acute; margins entire; petiole c. 0.5 mm long. Flowers red, sessile, in dense subterminal spikes c. 2–7 cm long; floral bracts absent; hypanthium pubescent; sepals green, narrow-triangular, 4–6 mm long; petals orbicular, c. 3–4 mm diam.; stamens crimson, 10–25 mm long; anthers yellow; style 25–30 mm long; ovary 5-celled. Fruit c. 6–10 mm long, c. 6–10 mm diam., not woody, dehiscent by terminal valves. Flowers Sep.–Mar.
VVP, GipP, OtP, GGr. Native and naturalised in WA. In Victoria sparingly established near Anglesea and Phillip Island.