Its showy red flower spikes, present over most of the year in an ideal situation, account for its popularity.

It has hard, fibrous or papery bark and its young growth is usually covered with soft, silky hairs.

[7] The species had previously been known as Metrosideros citrina, in turn named by William Curtis in the Botanical Magazine in 1794, based on a flowering plant growing at Lord Cremorne's estate.

That plant had grown from a root collected in 1770 at Botany Bay by Joseph Banks during the first voyage of James Cook to Australia.

"[8][9] The specific epithet (citrina) alludes to the similarity of the aromatic property of leaves of this species and those of citrus plants.

[11] Melaleuca citrina occurs in near coastal areas of New South Wales, including the Blue Mountains and extends as far west as the Central Western Slopes.

Those seeking nectar from the flowers include eastern spinebills, New Holland honeyeaters, noisy miners, red wattlebirds and silvereyes, while crimson rosellas eat the seeds.