The spindly spreading tree or shrub typically grows to a height of 1.5 to 5 metres (5 to 16 ft).

[2] It can be spreading, bushy or openly branched or have a rounded or obconic habit with up to six main stems emerging from ground level.

The dark brown to grey or black coloured bark can be smooth on higher branches but longitudinally fissured and fibrous on the main stems especially toward the base.

[2] The simple inflorescences form showy and fragrant cylindrical flower-spikes with a length of 3 to 6.5 cm (1.2 to 2.6 in) and a diameter of 6 to 8 mm (0.24 to 0.31 in) with densley packed bright golden flowers.

The light brown, firmly chartaceous and slightly undulate seed pods that form after flowering have a narrowly oblong shape and are 2.5 to 8.5 cm (0.98 to 3.35 in) in length and 5 to 8 mm (0.20 to 0.31 in) wide and are straight to irregularly shallowly curved with silvery to light golden spreading hairs.