 In 1917, George Druce changed the name to "Verticordia plumosa" and the change was published in a supplement of "The Botanical Exchange Club and Society of the British Isles Report".Details of the specimens used in the first description of the species are uncertain.The plant was probably first collected by Archibald Menzies, October 1791 and the type collection may have been made in 1803 by Jean Leschenault.