It is an ornamental shrub or hedge plant, which is dicotyledonous and angiosperm. It can grow up to 0.9-1.8m tall. Crowned with numerous colourful leaves, it is widely planted in parks.
Its leaves are coloured with streaks, dots and blotches that are green, red, pink, orange or yellow in colour. They are thick, smooth, short-stalked and about 7.6-25.4cm long.
It blooms inconspicuous unisexual flower in summer. It has separated, narrow spikes of several inches long. Its white male flowers have 5-6minute petals and 15 or more stamens each; while green female flowers bear a 3-chambered ovary each.
Its fruits are small, inconspicuous and green in colour.
