Hakea purpurea is a shrub which is endemic to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It grows to about 1 to 3 metres in height and has reddish-purple flowers that appear in spring. These are followed by ovoid woody seed capsules which are approximately 1.5 cm wide. The leaves are terete and range from 3 to 10 cm long and 1 to 1.5mm in diameter Hakea purpurea occurs in central Queensland and has an isolated occurrence in hills north of Yetman in New South Wales.