This herbaceous perennial plant is formed of leaves, a tuft, flower stalks and roots. The tufts or head, depending on the variety, can have different coloured leaves and come in various shapes; in fact, while Rosso di Treviso radicchio has a fusiform tuft, Rosso di Chioggia and Rosso di Verona have a spherical tuft. The colour of the leaves ranges from red with whitish main veins to creamy white with purple-red veins. Depending on the cultivar, the leaves have full or slightly fringed edges.