Shrub to 1.5 m tall. Leaves linear, often curved, mostly 15-35 cm long, about 1 mm wide, 3-angled, with a needle tip. Flowers 1-2, stalkless in the leaf axils, white, pink or pinkish purple or yellow, sometimes changing from white to pink; mostly late winter to early spring. Stamens mostly 20-30. Ovary 3-chambered, with 3 ribs and 1 ovule per chamber.

Available as pink- or white-flowered forms.

H. robustum Endl., Swan River Myrtle, has leaves with margins bent down and pink to dark pink flowers, while H. puniceum C. Gardn., Large Myrtle, has 3-angled leaves but large deep pink flowers about 2 cm wide.

WA.

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.