Actinoplanes italicus is distinguished by the cherry-red color of its vegetative mycelium, and by the production of soluble pigments.

During experiments led by Grazia Beretta searching for antibiotic producers from some of the uncommon genera of the Actinomycetales, A. italicus did not produce any antibiotic activity against either Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, and differed in its morphological, cultural, and physiological characteristics.

The media containing carbon sources were inoculated with mycelium, washed twice, and suspended in distilled water.

The sporangia produced on starch and skim milk agar have wrinkled surfaces and vary in shapes from spherical to oval and piriform.

Other notable physiological characteristics include its ability to liquefy gelatin, produce tyrosinase, and peptonization without coagulation.

A. italicus uses inositol, fructose, rhamnose, mannitol, xylose, arabinose, sucrose, and glucose as carbon sources for growth.

When cultured in different growth media, A. italicus tends to produce varying soluble pigments based on its carbon source.