The leaves, which are up to 12 mm wide, are larger than most tussocks similar to it. The plumes which appear in summer can make it look similar to the Toetoe species and so sometimes it is called miniature toetoe although botanically this reference is quite incorrect. The plumes begin a green colour and as they age turn light brown. The name is similar to C. flavescens although they visually look quite different. C. flavicans is one of the easier Chionochloa species to identify because of its distinctive plumes.