Xanthostemon is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, first described in 1857 by the German–born Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller. The genus is distributed across Malesia, Papuasia and northern Australia. The genera Pleurocalyptus and Purpureostemon from New Caledonia are morphologically close to Xanthostemon.

Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All species are woody, contain essential oils, and have flower parts in multiples of four or five. The leaves are evergreen, alternate to mostly opposite, simple, and usually entire. The flowers have a base number of five petals, though in several genera, the petals are minute or absent. The stamens are usually very conspicuous, brightly coloured, and numerous.