The trunk is topped by a rosette of large, evergreen, pinnate leaves somewhat twisted near the tip, which may be 3 m (10 ft) long.

The two or three female cones are slightly woolly, yellowish-green and cylindrical, 55 by 25 cm (22 by 10 in) in size, the scales being covered with small knobs.

The cones split open when ripe revealing the bright red seeds which are about 5 cm (2.0 in) long.

[1] An easy place to see this species is in the gorge below the Howick Falls, where its palm-like fronds contrast with the surrounding broad-leaved trees.

Another location is the Valley of a Thousand Hills, where a group of the trees has been declared a "national monument".