It is a small, spreading shrub with cylindrical to flattened leaves and white or pink flowers arranged in corymbs on the ends of branchlets.

The flowers are pink or white, slightly fragrant and arranged in a dense corymb at the ends of branches on a pedicel 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long.

The floral cup is cylindrical in shape, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long with five ribs on its sides and between three and six hairs on each of the five sepal lobes.

[2][3][4][5][6] The eastern feather-flower was first formally described by Ferdinand von Mueller, who gave it the name Verticordia wilhelmii, adding that it is an "exceedingly pretty little bush".

The plant grows in partly shaded or sunny positions, in sandy soil or well-drained loam, and has a long flowering period.