Beaufortia purpurea is an erect, sometimes open, spreading shrub with long, straight, thin branches and which grows to a height of about 1.5 m (5 ft).

Flowering occurs from October to December or in January to February and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules in clusters about 12 mm (0.47 in) long .

[2][3][4] Beaufortia purpurea was first formally described in 1839 by English botanist, John Lindley in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.

[7] Beaufortia purpurea mainly occurs in the outer suburbs of Perth in the Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions.

[8] Beaufortia orbifolia is classified as "Priority Three" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions[2] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.