Shrubs deciduous, (0.5–)1.5–3 m tall, much branched. Branchlets brown or purplish brown to blackish brown, terete, initially yellowish strigose, gradually glabrescent. Petiole 2–4 mm, sparsely pilose; stipules lanceolate, 2–4 mm, membranous, pilose; leaf blade elliptic-ovate or rhombic-ovate, 2.5–4.5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, lateral veins 5–7 pairs, raised abaxially and slightly impressed adaxially, abaxially yellowish gray tomentose, adaxially sparsely pubescent, base broadly cuneate, apex acuminate, rarely acute. Corymbs 1.5–2.5 cm, 3–7-flowered; rachis and pedicels pubescent; bracts linear-lanceolate, 2–3 mm, membranous, slightly pubescent. Flowers 7–8 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially pubescent. Sepals triangular, 1.5–2 mm and ca. as broad, apex shortly acuminate. Petals erect, reddish, elliptic to ovate, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, base shortly clawed, apex obtuse. Stamens 16–20, shorter than petals. Ovary white pubescent apically; styles 2 or 3, free, somewhat not exceeding stamens. Fruit dark red, ovoid, 7–8 × 5–6 mm, pyrenes usually 2–4. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 68*.

Mountain valleys, thickets along river banks; 1500--3000 m. Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.