Philotheca pungens, commonly known as prickly waxflower,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia.

It is an undershrub with linear to narrow oblong or needle-like leaves and white flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils.

The leaves are linear to narrow oblong or needle-like, 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) long, flat on the upper surface but prominently keeled on the lower side.

Mitchell described the plant as "a remarkable new species of Eriostemon forming a scrubby spiny bush, with much the appearance of a Leptospermum".

[6] It was first formally described in 1838 by botanist John Lindley, who gave it the name Eriostemon pungens and the description was published in Mitchell's book, Three Expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia .