The fruits contain two obovoid shaped black seeds that are 10 to 15 mm (0.39 to 0.59 in)[2] in length with a membranous yellow wing.

[3] Hakea arborescens was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1810 as part of the work On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae as published in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.

[4] The specific epithet (arborescens) is derived from the Latin meaning "becoming tree-like" referring to the habit of the shrub.

[3] It is often found among coastal dunes, inland on soils that are alkaline,[2] along creek banks or in low-lying areas such as swamps.

Hakea arborescens is often found growing over and around areas of sandstone, quartzite and limestone and usually part of monsoon forest or Eucalyptus woodland communities.