Shrub 0.3 - 3 m tall, spreading. Perulate winter buds present. Branchlets tomentose. Older branches becoming glabrescent, grey-brown or purplish, peeling. Leaf blade elliptic or ovate to obovate, 2-4(-7) x 1-2.8(-3.5) cm, base cuneate to rounded, apex acute to acuminate, margin coarsely serrate, sometimes with a few small glands towards the base, adaxially sparsely villous, abaxially densely villous especially on veins. Petiole 2-5(-8) mm long, densely villous, usually eglandular. Stipules linear or deeply laciniate, 3-7 mm long, sparsely villous, glandular, persistent. Flower buds fasciculate or solitary, flowers solitary or in pairs. Flowers 1.2-1.5 cm diameter, opening before or with the leaves. Pedicels to 2.5 mm long, densely villous. Hypanthium cylindric to cupuliform, 4-5 mm long, pubescent to glabrescent. Sepals triangular to oblong, 1.5-3 mm long, acute to obtuse at apex, pubescent to glabrescent outside, usually glabrous inside, margin glandular serrate. Petals white or pale pink, obovate or rounded, ca. 10 mm long, rounded at apex. Stamens ca. 20, unequal, shorter than petals. Filaments 5-7 mm long. Style ca. 8 mm long, villous at base. Ovary densely villous, sometimes only towards apex. Fruit a drupe, red, subglobose, 5-12 mm in diameter, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, especially at apex; mesocarp fleshy, juicy and slightly sour; endocarp stony, ovoid, compressed, with a lateral furrow on one side.