This orchid species is found in some of the Torres Strait Islands, and through Cape York Peninsula to Townsville, Queensland.

[3] Dendrobium smillieae is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with crowded, ribbed, greenish or yellowish spindle-shaped pseudobulbs 0.3–1.0 m (1–3 ft) long and 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide.

The flowers are arranged in crowded, bottlebrush-like groups 80–150 mm (3–6 in) long on the end of the pseudobulbs.

[6] Dendrobium smillieae was first formally described in 1867 by Ferdinand von Mueller from a specimen collected near Rockingham Bay by John Dallachy.

[8] The bottlebrush orchid is widespread and common, growing on trees and sometimes on rocks, in woodland, forest and rainforest margins.