[3] Melaleuca viminalis is a large shrub or small tree growing to 10 m (30 ft) tall with hard, fibrous, furrowed bark, a number of trunks and usually pendulous branches.

[4][5][6][3][7] This species was first formally described in 1788 by Joseph Gaertner, who gave it the name Metrosideros viminalis in De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum.

[8][9] In 1984, Norman Brice Byrnes transferred the species to Melaleuca as M. viminalis in the journal Austrobaileya.

rhodendron in the journal Novon, and the name, and that of the autonym are accepted by Plants of the World Online: The specific epithet (viminalis) means "having long, slender branches".

Its adaptations to survive strong currents during flood events allow it to slow the flow of floodwater and reduce erosion, thereby improving the water quality in streams and rivers.

[17] It needs regular watering but can survive drought as a mature plant although it is not frost hardy and will succumb to salt spray.