An erect shrub up to 3 m; young branches retrorsely hairy. Leaves lanceolate, entire or coarsely dentate, sparingly hairy, especially on margin and midrib or glabrous beneath. Petiole united by the broad bases. Flowers in terminal cymose clusters of 3 or more. Calyx tube adnate to the ovary, striate; lobes 5, narrow, feathery. Corolla lobes short, spreading. Anthers included. Fruit dry, achene-like, narrowly oblong, coriaceous.
Two subspecies can be distinguished as follows: