This is a very tough plant. An unusual and very pretty perennial found primarily on schist slopes but will grow almost anywhere dry, particularly on top of or within stone walls and steep unsoiled exposed embankments. Reaching 60 cm tall and wide, with an open structure of wiry stems bearing translucent pale green seed capsules, developing a spectacular ruby red to pink inflorescence-like show of seed capsules later in summer.

In extremely dry conditions it can appear to be dead with only a dry grey branch structure remaining, so for this reason it's definitely not a plant for close proximities, however once spring comes the blue-green foliage quietly takes over and the spectacular flowers and seed heads will appear again. It often looks its best when planted on top of stone walls, even in the most inhospitable soils, where it will hang over the edge to create another display in spring.