Spreading to erect shrub to 4 m or so tall. Leaves entire, ovate to elliptic or obovate, broad to narrow, lower surface hairy. Flower clusters bent down, cylindrical to almost round. Flowers red to purplish, hairy or not outside, bearded inside; spring and summer. Fruit hairless.

A variable species under revision and with many horticultural forms, including 'Murray Valley Queen', a compact form with elliptic leaves, int. 1980s.

Qld, NSW, Vic.

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.