It is a small shrub with narrow, keeled leaves and flowers in groups of about eight, surrounded by yellowish-green to pinkish-red bracteoles.

The form occurring near Mogumber is taller, growing up to 2.0 metres (7 ft), has larger flowers and differently coloured bracteoles than the one found near Narrogin.

[2][3]The first formal description of D. carnea was published by Charles Gardner in 1923 in Royal Society of Western Australia.

[4] The specific epithet (carnea) is a Latin word meaning "flesh"[5] referring to the colour of the floral bracts.

[8] Darwinia carnea is reasonably well known in gardens but requires excellent drainage and needs some overhead protection.