Melaleuca nodosa, commonly known as the prickly-leaved paperbark,[2] is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia.

It is a shrub or small tree with narrow, sometimes needle-like leaves and profuse heads of yellow flowers as early as April or as late as January.

[9][10] The specific epithet (nodosa) is from the Latin nodosus meaning "knotty" or "knobby"[11] possibly referring to the shape of the fruiting clusters.

Associated heathland species include bracelet honey myrtle (Melaleuca armillaris), heath banksia (Banksia ericifolia), smooth-barked apple (Angophora costata) and red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera), and woodland species scribbly gum (Eucalyptus sclerophylla), Parramatta red gum (E. parramattensis), narrow-leaved apple (Angophora bakeri), and white feather honeymyrtle (Melaleuca decora).

[6] Melaleuca nodosa has been recorded as a host for the mistletoe species Amyema congener, A. gaudichaudii, Dendrophthoe curvata and D.