Caladenia cristata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, erect, hairy leaf, 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long and about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide.

[1][2][3][4] Caladenia cristata was first formally described by Richard Sanders Rogers in 1923 and the description was published in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia from a specimen found in the Murchison district by "Dr. E.S.

[4][5] The specific epithet (cristata) is a Latin word meaning "tufted" or "crested"[6] referring to the tall labellum calli.

Specimens were found near Miling nine years later and the species is now known to occur between Pithara, Wongan Hills and Watheroo in the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic regions, growing on higher ground above salt lakes and flats.

[2][3][7][8] Caladenia cristata is classified as "Priority One" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife,[7] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.