Variable soft coralsgrow in small colonies of up to 7 cm. They are mushroom-shaped, having a shortstalk with a round headcovered with feeding polyps. The stalk is of variable height and may also be absent. The colour is extremely variable and may be red, purple, orange, white, yellow or pink and often varies between the colony and the polyps.
This is a common species over its range. Colonies are usually found attached to hard substrates such as rock, shells and even encrusting sponges on vertical walls.