Cormous geophyte up to 50cm. Leaves usually produced after flowering, sword-shaped, trailing and bluish-green in colour, midrib slightly thickened, 8-10mm wide. Flowers deep pink to carmine with white markings on the lower tepals in 2-6 flowered spike; perianth tube funnel-shaped 30-35mm long; outer tepals larger than the inner; often sweetly scented.

Never out of sight of the sea.

Latin: carminus = the beautiful red or crimson pigment obtained from cochineal, referring to the deep pink to carmine colour of the flowers of this species.