The scented flowers are creamy or white, becoming pinkish and reddish or maroon as the flowers ages, giving a variegated appearance to the display. They are without scent. The staminodes are variable in the species, and is a distinguishing characteristic of the varieties.
The northern most range is near and east of Geraldton, the species varying in appearance throughout its range south to cooler and moister climate. Small populations exist throughout the Swan Coastal Plain, and further south and east.
The plant was first collected by Charles von Hügel at the Swan River, Western Australia in 1833. It was described by Endlicher in his 1837 Enumeratio plantarum, giving the epithet huegelii to commemorate the botanist.
In a revision of the genus Verticordia by Alex George in 1991, four varieties were described:
- Verticordia huegelii var. huegelii Endl.
- Verticordia huegelii var. decumbens A.S. George
- Verticordia huegelii var. stylosa (Turc.) A.S.George
- Verticordia huegelii var. tridens A.S.George