It is an erect shrub or small tree with usually divided leaves with linear lobes, and clusters of orange flowers.

The undivided leaves and lobes are mostly 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide with the edges rolled under, enclosing the lower surface apart from the midvein.

Flowering mainly occurs from August to November and the fruit is a hairy follicle 15–22 mm (0.59–0.87 in) long.

[3][4] Grevillea excelsior was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels in Ernst Georg Pritzel's Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie.

[7] Flame grevillea grows in mallee heath and is widespread in inland areas of south-western Western Australia between Quairading, Wongan Hills, Coolgardie and the Peak Charles National Park.