The body colour goes from light brown to green-brown, the polyp has almost transparent beaded tentacles which can have some red to yellow spots due to the presence of symbiotic micro-algae.

It prefers shallow and bright underwater areas and usually fixes itself on hard substrate like rocks, shells or other hard materials as deep as 50 m (160 ft).

[4] B. europaeas are simultaneous hermaphrodites and brooders that reproduce sexually once a year.

[1] After fertilization takes place in May and April, B. europaeas release their larvae in September and October.

[1] The 3 mm (0.12 in) long planula larvae then settle after an average of seven days and begin to metamorphose into polyps and eventually full grown B.