A variable, mostly low shrub to 2-3 m tall. Leaves linear to lanceolate or elliptic. Flowers in the leaf axils; late winter to spring. Sepals sometimes pointed but generally with an awn to about 1.5 cm long. Petals white to pink. Stamens mostly white.

The most widespread species of the genus.

C. alpestris (Lindl.) Court, Snow Myrtle, is occasionally cultivated and has white (rarely pink) awnless flowers. Syn. Lhotskya alpestris (Lindl.) Druce; C. fraseri A. Cunn. from WA is occasionally grown for its spectacular purple flowers.

WA, SA, E Australia.

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.