Pocilloporids are a durable group of stony corals which occur from the deepest to the shallowest parts of reefs. They are well represented in all tropical seas and they are commonly called birdnest, cauliflower, cat's paw and pencil coral. Pocilloporids can hold their color and grow very well in aquaria and for these reasons they are a popular group of corals with a wide range of reef aquarists.

Pocilloporids have a range of mostly branching forms which all have very small polyps and corallites. Shallow water species can have branches as thick as a wrist while deeper water species can have branches thinner than a pencil. They are most often colored brown, green or pink, often with brilliantly colored polyp tentacles. Shallow water species are often colored a solid, vivid fuschia.

Specimens with thicker branches should be offered strong, fast water flow and high light intensity. Specimens with thinner branches may also do well in high light intensity but they usually do well in intermediate water flow speeds. Specimens with fuschia colors will only maintain their brilliance under really high flow speed and light intensity and low nutrient conditions.

Due to their durability and fast growth rates, most Pocilloporids are easily propagated through fragmentation. Additionally, many Pocillopora will often release brooded larvae which stick and grow to all manner of aquarium surfaces.