It is a woody shrub or small tree with relatively long, linear leaves arranged in whorls, and with irregular groups of creamy-white flowers in spring.

[2] Verticordia verticillata was first formally described in 1977 by Norman Byrnes from a specimen collected on Eva Valley Station in the Northern Territory.

[4] The specific epithet (verticillata) is derived from the Latin word verticillus meaning "a whorl"[5] referring to the leaf arrangement of this species.

[1] Tropical featherflower is widespread in the Kimberley region in Western Australia, and in the north of the Northern Territory, including some of the offshore islands.

[1] This verticordia is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[6] and as "of least concern" in the Northern Territory.