Shrubs deciduous, erect, (0.5–)4 m tall. Branchlets arching, reddish brown or brownish, terete, slender, initially pubescent, soon glabrescent. Petiole 3–8(–10) mm, initially pilose, glabrate; stipules linear, 2.5–5 mm, initially sparsely pilose, glabrate; leaf blade ovate to broadly ovate, (1.5–)2–4(–5) × (1.2–)1.5–3(–4) cm, midvein raised abaxially and impressed adaxially, abaxially pilose, glabrescent, adaxially glabrous, base broadly cuneate or rounded, apex acute or obtuse. Corymbs lax, 5–21-flowered; rachis and pedicels glabrous, rarely slightly puberulous; bracts linear, 2–4 mm, glabrous or slightly puberulous. Pedicel 4–6 mm. Flowers 1–1.2 cm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially glabrous. Sepals triangular, 1.5–2 × 2–2.5 mm, apex acute. Petals spreading, white, suborbicular, 4–5 mm in diam., adaxially white puberulous near base, base shortly clawed, apex obtuse or emarginate. Stamens ca. 20, slightly shorter than petals. Ovary pilose apically; styles usually 2, free, not exceeding stamens. Fruit red or purplish red, subglobose or obovoid, (5–)7–8(–12) mm in diam.; pyrenes 2, united into 1. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 68.

River valleys, dense and mixed forests on slopes, forest margins, thickets, stream sides; 1200--3500 m. Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [Russia; C and SW Asia].