Flowering mainly occurs from June to October, and the fruit is an oval follicle 8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in) long and hairy.

[2][3] Grevillea paradoxa was first formally described in 1868 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected by James Drummond.

[4][5] The specific epithet (paradoxa) means "unexpected, strange or marvellous", because von Mueller thought the plant looked Hakea-like.

[6] Bottlebrush grevillea grows in mallee scrub and shrubland and is widespread between Mullewa, Wubin, Kondinin Kalgoorlie and the Die Hardy Range in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Mallee, Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions of south-western Western Australia.

[2][3] This grevillea is listed as "not threatened", by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.