The pompon tree often produces masses of summer flowers as can be seen in this picture. This common display has made the tree a garden favourite.

The leaves of Dais cotinifolia are simple, opposite (sometimes sub-opposite or scattered) and often crowded at the ends of stems. The leaf shape is oblong-elliptic or obovate with rounded base and tip. Leaf margins are entire and the slightly raised pale lateral veins and midrib are conspicuous.

The fruit is a small red-brown nutlet inside the floral tube or hypanthium subtended by the by now woody brown bracts.

Traditionally the bark of Dais cotinifolia was stripped for rope making and to weave baskets and mats (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000).