In addition to its aromatic and showy foliage, this conifer sports interesting exfoliating gray-brown bark and showy male and female cones. Its form is broadly conical with spreading branches. The branchlets are flattened and terminate in dense, fan-like sprays. The dark green leaves emit an aromatic odor when crushed. The small male cones are yellow. The female cones are cylindrical and are composed of 6 paired, flattened, and pointed scales. In early fall, as the female cones open, they resemble a ducks-bill. They ripen in late summer at lower elevations and a month or so later when situated at higher elevations.It will adapt to a variety of soils, however, it prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil. It typically does not develop winter burn.