Stiff, erect shrub to 3 m tall. Leaves oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 3-7 cm long, 5-8 mm wide, tip usually shortly and sharply pointed, tapering at the base, the veins generally visible on both surfaces and gland dots sometimes prominent. Flower spike 6-10 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, filaments bright red, rarely purplish, anthers dark purplish red; summer. Fruit 4-7 mm wide.

Widely grown with many colour and form cultivars. The flowers vary from pale pink to deep red or lilac.

Qld, NSW, Vic.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Myrtaceae. 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.