They are native to the eastern coast of Australia, with one species, A. brachycarpum found in New Guinea and the Aru Islands.

The name is derived from Ancient Greek allo- "other" or "strange" and xylon or "wood" due to their unusual cell architecture compared with the related genera Telopea and Oreocallis.

Together with Telopea, Oreocallis and Embothrium, Alloxylon makes up a small group of terminal often red-flowering showy plants scattered around the southern edges of the Pacific Rim.

Known as the subtribe Embothriinae, this is an ancient group with roots in the mid Cretaceous, when Australia, Antarctica and South America were linked by land.

Their large size and, in some cases, lengthy time to flower from seed, has limited their availability as garden plants.