Shrub to 2 m tall. Stems bent at nodes, forming a zig-zag. Leaf blade lanceolate-ovate to elliptic-ovate, up to 7 cm long and 3 cm wide; tip long-pointed, acute or obtuse; base wedge-shaped. Inflorescence bracts oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate, 5-7 mm long, 2-3 mm wide. Pseudanthia pink to red, involucral tube 8.5-12 mm long.

Several cultivars are available, differing in the variegation of the foliage.

Cuba, USA.

Source: Forster, P. (2002). Euphorbiaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press. (as Pedilanthus tithymaloides subsp. smallii)