Melaleuca sapientes is a dense, spreading shrub growing to 1–3 m (3–10 ft) tall with whitish-grey, papery bark and silvery foliage.

Flowering occurs between August and January and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules, 3–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and usually in small clusters along the stem.

[2][3]Melaleuca sapientes was first formally described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany from a specimen collected 12 km (7 mi) north of Salmon Gums.

[4][5] The specific epithet (sapientes) honours Rob and Ann Smart, farmers near Jerramungup, for their assistance with research into the Melaleuca genus.

[6][7] This melaleuca occurs in and between the Jerramungup, Hyden, Salmon Gums, and Ponier Rock districts[2] in the Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions.