Correa aemula is an erect to spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) and has woolly-hairy branches.

The flowers are arranged singly, sometimes in pairs, in leaf axils or on the ends of short shoots, each on a pendent pedicel 5–30 mm (0.20–1.18 in) long.

The petals are fused for most of their length, forming a cylindrical corolla 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) long and green or greyish gren, fading to mauve-purple.

[2][3][4][5][6] The hairy correa was first formally described in 1838 by botanist John Lindley in Thomas Mitchell's book, Three Expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia.

[8][9] Correa aemula occurs on sandy or rocky soils in open forests and heathy woodlands in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island in South Australia and the Grampians in Victoria.