"melaleuca cajuputi" is usually a medium to large tree, often growing to and sometimes to with grey, brownish or whitish papery bark. the new growth is silky-hairy, becoming glabrous as it matures. the leaves are arranged alternately long and wide, tapering at both ends. the flowers are white, cream or greenish-yellow mostly in dense spikes at the ends of the branches which continue to grow after flowering but also often in the axils of the upper leaves. the spikes contain 8 to 20 groups of flowers, each group with three flowers. the stamens are grouped in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 6 to 18 stamens. timing of flowering varies with subspecies. the fruits are woody, cup-shaped capsules clustered loosely along the branches, each fruit long.