Shrub to 60 cm high, somewhat lemon-scented when young growth crushed, densely stellate-velvety indumented throughout; branches eglandular, not ridged, older branches glabrescent. Leaves simple, oblong to ovate, 5–18 mm long, 1–5.5 mm wide, obtuse, upper surface light green, lower surface grey-green, margins entire, recurved to revolute; petiole 0–0.7 mm long. Inflorescence 1–3-flowered, generally not exceeding leaves. Sepals narrowly lanceolate, 2–5.5 mm long, acute, densely stellate-hairy, smooth; petals 2.3–7 mm long, pink or occasionally white, often drying to light purple, imbricate; ovary stellate-pubescent. Follicles velutinous with a dense stellate indumentum, small terminal appendage present; seeds 3–3.5 mm long, mottled black, rugulose to striated. Flowers Aug.–Dec.
GipP, Glep, LoM, MuM, Wim. Also SA, Tas. Widespread in sandy mallee and mallee-heath communities of western Victoria with a southerly outlier near Casterton, and disjunct populations in sandly lowland heaths around the Gippsland Lakes.
Often cryptic unless recently after fires or other disturbance when flowering may be prolific.
species Zieria veronicea (F.Muell.) Benth.