 Pincushion hakea occurs in the sandplains of the coastal southwest of Australia, the northernmost range being Narrogin and extending east to Esperance.The habitat is often sandplains, sometimes occurring on sandy clay; most recorded specimens are in the southern districts of its botanical province.The plant, which is propagated from seeds, is used in cultivation in the eastern states of Australia, and as a hedging or street plant in America and Italy.