This is a clustering palm with multiple slender, ringed trunks that rise to about 30–40 ft (9–12 m) tall. Each stem supports a smooth, green crownshaft, giving the palm a neat and elegant profile. The crown carries pinnate leaves with leaflets that are distinctly fishtail-shaped, creating a textured, layered appearance unlike most other palms. Newly emerging leaves often display a soft pinkish hue before maturing to a rich green, adding seasonal bursts of color to the clump. Inflorescences arise beneath the crownshaft, branched and cream-colored, giving way to clusters of bright red fruit.