Sub-species
subsp. preissii
This subspecies grows throughout Australia and is similar to the species. In New South Wales it is commonly seen in the Goulburn River district and in Western Australia it is widespread inland from Esperance in the south to Kalgoorlie inland and on the coast at Perth.
It appears in a variety of habitats including the Avon wheatbelt, the Geraldton sandplains, the Great Victoria Desert, Jarrah forests or mallee country and along the Nullarbor. It grows in yellow, white, grey or red sandy loam and is commonly associated with granite outcrops.

subsp. verrucosa
Mallee Pine, Sandhill Pine, Scrub Cypress Pine
Note: this subspecies is refered to as a distinct species C. verrucosa in many text.
This subspecies is normally a small stunted tree with multiple trunks up to 6 m (20 ft) tall. It has glaucous green foliage and producers broad-ovoid to depressed-globose silver-grey female cones that are up to 2 mm in diameter and are covered in small warts. It is found in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia growing on undulating valleys and hillsides in small clumps or as a isolated tree.