When underwater, this sea anemone opens up to display numerous tentacles, arranged in three whorls.

This species was first described in 1898 by H Farquhar who wrote "Full-grown individuals in situations well exposed to the rays of the sun have a column greenish or brownish black, and the disc and tentacles dusky crimson, while those on the undersides of overhanging stones are reddish brown or crimson, the depth of colour varying according to the amount of light which reaches them.

[5] The waratah anemone is found along the coasts of southern Australia, its range extending from Perth to New South Wales.

[5] The waratah anemone can also reproduce sexually with planktonic larvae settling far away from the parent individual.

It may be difficult for these juveniles to establish themselves because of resident populations of cloned individuals that are highly locally adapted.