Deciduous shrub with many erect stems; branches mostly terete and tomentose. Leaf base appendage present, in one, two or more whorls, sometimes persistent bases compile a cone like structure. Leaves simple, alternate; exstipulate usually shortly petiolate, margin serrate or incised. Inflorescence many flowered, bracteate, pinnately veined panicles or simple corymbs or umbel or umbel like racemes, terminal on branches of the current year or lateral from the buds of the preceding years growth. Flowers mostly small perfect, rarely imperfect mostly bisexual, very rarely unisexual in dioecious plants; bract linear scaly or leafy; hypanthium mostly campanulate, sometimes saucer shaped (hemispheric), free from carpels and lined by nectariferous glands. Sepals 5, gamosepalous, sepal lobes free, triangular ovate, erect, deciduous or persistent with fruits; lobes smooth. Petals 5, polypetalous; white, cream white, pinkish white or pink, sometimes light purple-purplish white, red or pink-red; spreading, sub-orbicular, obovate or oblong, margins slightly undulate or uneven, deciduous, imbricate, inserted at the outer edge of the nectar ring or disc. Stamens usually 10-25, free, filaments slender, usually of unequal length, free, inserted at the outer margins of the mouth of the hypanthium, nectar ring (disc) more or less fleshy, sometimes very prominent. Carpels mostly 5, free, superior; inserted at the base of lthe floral tube; style terminal or sub-terminal or from the sides, more or less bent; stigma more or less capitate or discoid or funnel shaped or heart shaped, ovules one, two to several per carpel. Fruit follicle, mostly 5, oblong, acuminate, completely dehiscent along the adaxial suture.
A genus of c. 80 species, mostly restricted to the North Temperate Zone and widespread in North America, Eastern Europe and Asia, absent in Middle and Western Europe. Eight species are recognized from Pakistan. Some species are ornamental, nectiferous and are well established in horticulture, specially with pale-pink flowers (S. bella Sims) or white flowered S. cantoniensis Lour. often cultivated in the gardens.