The pine can have a tree or shrub-like habit typically growing to a height of 1 to 9 metres (3 to 30 ft) and a width of up to 6 metres (20 ft).^[4] It is relatively slow growing. The crown is commonly made up fine, dense foliage.^[5] The leaf is rounded on the dorsal side and the cones often have a width of over 2 centimetres (0.8 in) with scales that do not separate from the base. It starts producing brown-yellow-orange cones between October and January.^[4] The root system is generally moderate to deep or shallow and spreading. It is reasonably long lived, usually to over 15 years of age.^[5]

It is endemic to the Swan Coastal Plain, Rottnest Island and Garden Island^[5] but has become naturalised elsewhere and now has a scattered distribution throughout the Mid West, Wheatbelt, Peel, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions where it is found on plains, slopes, the margins of salt lakes and among granite outcrops growing in sandy, loamy or clay soils.^[4]

The plant makes a good windbreak or as a shelterbelt or shade for stock. The trunks make ideal fence posts and it has good ornamental attributes. The plant's pollen has value for apiculture. In urban areas it makes a good ornamental plant, or as a free street tree and is suitable as a screen or hedge.