Striking, densely branched, rigid shrub up to 60cm high, white-stemmed. Minute scale-like, granular leaves occur in small clusters on short side branches, giving the plant its characteristic triangular appearance; showy flowerheads, papery bracts  a bright pink shading to red, encircling tiny florets within; involucral bracts occur in many rows with the innermost row forming the pink papery everlasting  "petals".

The long-lasting bracts fade to dark grey with age, and are thought to protect seeds from fire.