Like its close relative Melaleuca styphelioides, it is a small, erect tree with prickly leaves and spikes of cream or white flowers but its bark is hard rather than papery and the leaves have fewer veins than that species.

Melaleuca squamophloia is a shrub or small tree growing to 7 m (20 ft) high, with hard, scaly or fibrous bark.

Flowering occurs in spring and from April to June, and is followed by fruit which are woody, almost spherical capsules, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long.

[6] The specific epithet (squamophloia) is from the Latin word squama meaning "scale"[7]: 746  and the Ancient Greek word φλοιός (phloiós) meaning “bark”[7]: 123  referring to the bark of this species which is hard and scaly.

[2] This melaleuca occurs on the black soil plains in and between the Miles, Jandowae and Tara districts of south east Queensland.