It has been recorded in Western Australia, but there is doubt about the accuracy of this record. Flowering in spring, the species is most attractive with its masses of creamy white flowers borne on short branches in the axils of upper leaves. They enclose numerous silky stamens or slender, plumed styles as the flowers are usually either male or female. The styles on the female flowers persist to form curved feathery appendages on the tightly clustered fruit. In this stage the plant is very decorative and inspires two of the common names - Goatsbeard or Old Man's Beard.
Leaves are opposite, trifoliate with faintly but irregularly toothed margins.
Juvenile foliage is purplish with white or silver markings. For best results C. aristata should be grown in a position with some overhead shade and in deep cool soil. Liberal mulching with leaf litter would be beneficial. It may be easily trained to cover an artificial support such as a fence, trellis or pergola but in nature uses a tree or bush for support. It may also be used as a ground cover in the absence of vertical elements.