Sub-species
subsp. assurgentiflora
This semi evergreen shrubs to small tree has a twisted stems and attains a height of 4 m (12ft) with mid green 5-7 palm late leaves that have white pubescence on the underside and are 150 mm (6 in) long and wide. It produces deep-cerise campanulate flowers with darker veins on the slightly reflexed petals and is up to 76 mm (3in) wide.

They appear singularly or in pairs and sometimes as a cluster in the leaf axils during summer. This shrub is found growing on the coast in sandy soils or in rocky places and is wind, salt and drought tolerant but frost tender. It is planted in small gardens as a specimen or used in tropical settings for colour.

subsp. glabra
The shrub is similar to the species but is smaller with a dense shrubby-habit and has light green glabrous palmate leaves. It produces pale pink flowers with erect petals during summer.