Small or medium-sized tree to c. 15 m high (higher in cultivation), with crown of rather slender, widespreading, grey branches. Bark on mature trunks fissured, grey, reddish brown beneath. Shoots brownish grey or glaucous-grey, glabrous, remaining smooth for some years. Buds conic, not resinous; scales dark reddish brown, reflexed, with white-fimbriate margins. Lvs 2 per fascicle, (2)-4-12-(17) cm × c. 1 mm (to 19 cm long in cultivation), rather flexible, greyish green; resin canals marginal or submarginal; sheaths short in mature lvs. ♂ strobili 5-8 mm long, broadly cylindric to subglobose. Conelets stalked; scales obtuse or rounded. Cone stalks mostly 1-3 cm long, stout, recurved. Mature cones long-persistent and remaining closed for several years, 6.5-11 × 3.5-4.5 cm when closed, conic or ovoid-conic, ± symmetric, brown; apophyses flat or with convex umbonal area, keeled; umbo not armed. Seed wing 1.5-3 cm long, large, broad.