This endemic shrub is widespread in south western Australia but the name is not certain. Florabase says that D. hassellii var hassellii is no longer legal but all my literature has it in distinguishing it from var longifolia.

The plant is named after the British botanist James Drummond (1784 to 1863) who collected plants for amongst others, Captain Mangles himself famous for introducing Anigozanthos manglesii (Kangaroo Paw) to the gardens of England.