Variable, spreading, prostrate to upright or rounded shrub about 2 m tall. Leaves entire, linear to lanceolate or elliptic, to about 3 cm long and 0.5 cm wide with a sharp point, margin rolled under often concealing the hairy lower surface. Flower clusters more or less erect. Flowers green to yellow, red, pink or white, sparsely hairy outside, bearded inside; winter to spring. Fruit hairless.

Hybridises readily and a parent of many cultivars. A prostrate form is offered as 'Lunar Light' which has yellow flowers and leaves with cream margins.

NSW.

Leaves mostly with 3 veins, stiff, pungent; pollen presenter strongly oblique.

Source: Spencer, R.; Molyneux, B.; Mathews, D. (2002). Proteaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.