Rhizomes many-branched, not creeping, forming dense clumps, slender, 0.3–0.8 cm diam.; roots fibrous. Stems simple, somewhat angular, solid, 1.5–2.7 dm. Leaves: basal somewhat lax, overtopping stem, blade light green, paling to pink or straw color basally, finely ribbed, linear-acute to linear, ensiform, 4.5 dm × 0.5 cm, margins not thickened; cauline 1–3, sheathing for 1/2 length then spreading, foliaceous, blade linear-lanceolate, not inflated, narrow, reduced, to 15 cm. Inflorescence units 1–2-flowered; spathes distant basally by 3 cm in some cases, keeled, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-acuminate, 5–7 cm × 2–4 mm, unequal, outer longer than inner, herbaceous, margins scarious. Flowers: perianth color variable, purple, pink, lavender, cream, yellow, or rarely white; floral tube funnelform, 0.6–2 cm; sepals veined with color of limb, obovate, 5.8–6 × 1.6–2 cm, base gradually attenuate into white claw with slight yellow ridge, apex emarginate to bluntly rounded; petals same color as sepals, not prominently veined, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 5 × 1 cm; ovary 1–2 cm, slightly wider distally, base very gradually attenuate; style 2.2–3.2 cm, crests subquadrate, 8–12 mm, margins crenate or incised; stigmas triangular, margins entire; pedicel 1–5 cm, longer in second flower (when present) than in first. Capsules oblong, triangular in cross section, prominently ribbed, beaked, 3–5 cm. Seeds brown, D-shaped to irregular, wrinkled.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs stratification.