The stiff leaves may be variable on the one plant, needle-shaped, simple, more or less elliptic, egg-shaped, toothed, 1–4 cm (0.39–1.57 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) wide.

The inflorescence consists of 16-36 sweetly scented white-cream or yellow showy flowers in axillary clusters.

[3][4][5] Variable-leaved hakea was first formally described by Robert Brown and published the description in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.

[3][5] Hakea varia is a widespread species growing from north of Perth around the coast to Augusta and Esperance.

[3][4] Hakea varia is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.