The thick, firm leaves are up to half a meter long.

[3] The inflorescence is a narrowed panicle up to 80 centimeters long by 17 wide.

[2] Some seed is produced but most reproduction is vegetative, with new plants sprouting from tillers and the rhizome.

[6] The aboveground plant parts act as a windbreak, preventing the sand from being blown away, and the large root system stabilizes the sand in place.

[7] A cultivar of P. amarum called 'Dewey Blue' is also used for ornamental purposes.