It is a coniferous evergreen tree, growing to 15–25 m in height and is usually as broad as it is tall, forming a wide, dense, conical crown.

The leaves are needle-like, in bundles of five, with a length of 5–6 cm.

The cones are 4–7 cm long, with broad, rounded scales; the seeds are 8–11 mm long, with a vestigial 2–10 mm wing.

[citation needed] The Latin specific epithet parviflora means "with small flowers".

The cultivars 'Adcock's Dwarf' and 'Bonnie Bergman'[4] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.