Growing to 10 metres (33 ft), it is a small, upright, evergreen tree or large shrub.

It has small, shiny, very dark green leaves and tiny, vanilla-scented flowers in winter.

It is the hardiest of the azaras, withstanding temperatures down to −15 °C (5 °F), but in cooler temperate regions requires some protection from cold winds.

[1] The specific epithet microphylla comes from the Greek micro ("small") and phyllos ("leaf").

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.