Darwinia lejostyla is a compact shrub with a dense, upright habit and fine branchlets bearing small, ovate leaves. Flowering occurs from spring to early summer, with small tubular flowers held in rounded clusters near the ends of the branches. The flowers are typically red to pink, highlighted by prominent bracts that add to the display. Its tidy, compact form makes it ideal for feature planting, rockeries and containers.
Darwinia lejostyla occurs naturally in south-west Western Australia, growing in sandy or gravelly soils in open heath and low shrubland. These areas are low in nutrients, with excellent drainage and a dry summer, winter-rainfall climate. In cultivation it prefers similar well-drained soils and a sunny to lightly sheltered position with good air movement. When grown as a grafted plant it is more adaptable to a wider range of soil types. Once established it tolerates dry periods; avoid waterlogging and high-phosphorus fertilisers, and lightly prune after flowering to maintain a compact, well-shaped habit.