Kei apple is an attractive, drought and frost resistant, thorny tree or shrub, usually 3-5m tall, with a dense, multi-branched crown. It can form an impenetrable hedge or screen and is suitable for coastal gardens. It grows well in full sun or light shade and needs regular pruning to maintain a good hedge. Established plants are drought tolerant.

The edible fruits are plum-like, up to 60mm in diameter and yellow-orange in colour. It can be eaten raw or cooked and is juicy, aromatic and pleasantly tart when fully ripe, but is more commonly used in jams, jellies or marmalades.

However, it is dioecious, meaning that both male and female plants must be grown if fruit is to be produced. Male flowers are 3mm long and are found in dense clusters of 5–10 flowers. Female flowers are found in groups of up to three on stalks 4-10 mm long in the leaf axils.