Shrubs or small trees to 8 m tall. Branchlets densely tomentose when young, becoming glabrous. Leaves ovate, oblong or orbicular, 5–10 (12) × 3–7.5 cm, tomentose becoming glabrous adaxially, tomentose abaxially, apex acute to emarginate sometimes mucronulate, base rounded to slightly cordate, margin entire. Petiole 0.8–1.5 cm, tomentose. Stipules ovate to obovate, glandular-dentate, usually persistant. Flowers solitary, 4-5 cm in diameter. Bracts caducous. Pedicels to 0.5 cm, tomentose. Hypanthium narrowly campanulate, tomentose. Sepals ovate to oblong, 5-10 (12) mm long, tomentose above, glandular-pubescent beneath, acute at apex, margins glandular dentate. Petals white or pink, obovate, 1.8-2.5 x 1-2 cm, lanate at base, apex sometimes emarginate. Stamens less than half as long as petals. Styles densely tomentose at base. Fruit globose or pyriform to 3.5 cm long (cultivated fruits are much larger), yellow sometimes tinged red, initially tomentose becoming glabrous, aromatic, with 15-20 seeds in each locule.