Aerva leucura has graceful stems that shoot from the ground in spring and grow to almost 1 metre. The creamy spikes are formed on thin side branches off the main stems. In the drooping flowering spikes one can see the tiny, green flowers that open randomly and only a few at a time. The dull green leaves turn yellow or red in autumn. The plant may go completely dormant but will sprout again in Spring.

It is not the size of the flowers, but rather the reliable show Aerva leucura gives in the herbaceous border from summer to autumn, that makes this a worthwhile plant for landscaping

It is a plant with little demand both in terms of water and soil.