Portuguese Crowberry is a small shrub that generally does not surpass 75 cm of height, with many branches and persistent leaves. It is a dioecious species, i.e. there are female and male specimens. The young branches are grayish and hairy and witn many leaves. These are dark green, linear, shiny, with pronounced groove on the bottom page. The flowers appear between March and May, presenting the masculine rose petals and red anthers and the feminine rudimentary or nonexistent petals. The fruit, edible, is globose, whitish to rosaceous, about 1 cm in length.

On coastal sand and dunes, sometimes in pine or juniper woods. It is common in secondary dunes and dune valleys.