A smallish species of Pseudopanax with purple coloration particularly on the undersides of the leaves, hence the epithet 'discolor'. Somewhat variable. This is the smallest, most floppy form I have come across. Other forms I have seen have larger leaves and the shrub is a bit larger and more upright. I found it hardy enough in a sheltered garden in Cambridgeshire, but like most New Zealand shrubs, it is susceptible to hard frosts, ie below -7° or -8C.