It has thin, rough or scaly bark, broadly elliptical to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white flowers arranged singly on the ends of short side branches, and woody fruit that remains on the plant when mature.

It has thin, rough or scaly bark and the younger stems are covered with soft hairs at first.

The flowers are white, borne singly on the ends of short side shoots and are about 15 mm (0.59 in) wide.

[2][3] Leptospermum variabile was formally described in 1989 by Joy Thompson in the journal Telopea from specimens collected by P.R.

[3][4] The specific epithet (variabile) refers to the variability of this species, especially of the width of the leaves and the size of the fruit.