Compact shrublet up to 30cm or sometimes up to 1.2m, with a persistent a rootstock enabling it to resprout after fire when it is characteristically seen in bloom. Leaves are 6-16mm long, arranged in fours; flowers are large, hairy, bright red, tubular, inflated and 25-35mm long and arranged in tightly packed clusters.

Latin: cera = wax, cerintha = plant beloved by bees, wax flower