Grows from a shrub into a small, multi-stemmed tree with a flat-topped, spherical crown. Due to the more or less horizontal branching pattern, the crown becomes wider than it is high. The leaves are dark green with cream to yellow margins, sometimes tinged slightly pink. In autumn, the leaf turns a beautiful red. Each flower head is surrounded by four slightly overlapping, white bracts. The plant is shallow rooting with a fibrous root system and requires soil which is not too dry. On excessively dry soil, the leaf is sensitive to sunburn.