Paint Brush

Conospermum taxifolium is an erect shrub with rod-like branches and that typically grows to a height of up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in). It has spreading to erect, twisted narrow elliptic to narrow egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, 5–30 mm (0.20–1.18 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide. The flowers are arranged in panicles 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) wide on the ends of branches or in leaf axils, on peduncles 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long. The flowers are sessile with a bluish bract about 3 mm (0.12 in) long at the base. The flowers are tube-shaped with white to cream-coloured tepals 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and hairy on the outside. The upper lip of the flower is sac-like and the lower lip has three lobes. Flowering occurs from August to November and the fruit is a hairy nut 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long.

Variable smoke-bush grows in heath and woodland on the coast and nearby ranges, sometimes further inland, and is widespread from southern Queensland through eastern New South Wales to the far eastern corner of Victoria.